NEWS
Israel prepares army for possible Gaza invasion
![An Israeli soldiers stands on his tank at an army staging area on Nov. 21 near the Israel-Gaza Strip border.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/21/israrmy1121120005-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
An Israeli soldiers stands on his tank at an army staging area on Nov. 21 near the Israel-Gaza Strip border.
Menahem Kahana, AFP/Getty Images![Israeli soldiers stand on a tank at a staging area near the Gaza border.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/21/israrmy1121120004-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers stand on a tank at a staging area near the Gaza border.
Lefteris Pitarakis, AP![An Israeli soldier prays near artillery shells.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/21/israrmy1121120003-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
An Israeli soldier prays near artillery shells.
Uriel Sinai, Getty Images![Israeli tanks are parked at a staging area.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/21/israrmy1121120002-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli tanks are parked at a staging area.
Ariel Schalit, AP![An Israeli soldier puts on his boots at dawn at a military staging area near the Gaza Strip border.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/21/israrmy1121120001-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
An Israeli soldier puts on his boots at dawn at a military staging area near the Gaza Strip border.
Ariel Schalit, AP![Israeli soldiers inspect a belt of machine gun ammunition on a tank at a staging area on Nov. 20 near the Israel-Gaza border.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/20/israrmy1120120007-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers inspect a belt of machine gun ammunition on a tank at a staging area on Nov. 20 near the Israel-Gaza border.
Jack Guez, AFP/Getty Images![A soldier cleans an ammunition belt on his tank.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/20/israrmy1120120006-16_9.jpg?width=0&disable=upscale&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A soldier cleans an ammunition belt on his tank.
Ariel Schalit, AP![An Israeli soldier cleans the barrel of a tank cannon.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/20/israrmy1120120005-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
An Israeli soldier cleans the barrel of a tank cannon.
Jack Guez, AFP/Getty Images![Israeli soldiers clean their weapons.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/20/israrmy1120120004-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers clean their weapons.
Lefteris Pitarakis, AP![A tank crew works on their vehicle at a staging area.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/20/israrmy1120120003-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A tank crew works on their vehicle at a staging area.
Lefteris Pitarakis, AP![Israeli soldiers wait on their tank at a deployment area near Gaza.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/20/israrmy1120120002-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers wait on their tank at a deployment area near Gaza.
Uriel Sinai, Getty Images![Israeli tank crews prepare their weapons and vehicles.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/20/israrmy1120120001-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli tank crews prepare their weapons and vehicles.
Uriel Sinai, Getty Images![An Israeli Defense Forces soldier smokes next to a column of tanks at an army deployment area on Nov. 19 near the Israel-Gaza border.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/19/isr1119120001-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
An Israeli Defense Forces soldier smokes next to a column of tanks at an army deployment area on Nov. 19 near the Israel-Gaza border.
Menahem Kahana, AFP/Getty Images![A soldier from a tank squadron attends a morning briefing.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/19/isr1119120002-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A soldier from a tank squadron attends a morning briefing.
Jack Guez, AFP/Getty Images![A soldier sleeps next to a tank at a staging area near Gaza.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/19/isr1119120003-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A soldier sleeps next to a tank at a staging area near Gaza.
Uriel Sinai, Getty Images![Soldiers sleep near their armored vehicles.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/19/isr1119120004-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Soldiers sleep near their armored vehicles.
Uriel Sinai, Getty Images![Ammunition is lined up outside a self-propelled artillery vehicle.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/19/isr1119120005-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Ammunition is lined up outside a self-propelled artillery vehicle.
Christopher Furlong, Getty Images![Soldiers check their weapons.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/19/isr1119120006-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Soldiers check their weapons.
Lior Mizrahi, Getty Images![A soldier walks past tanks at a staging area.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/19/isr1119120007-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A soldier walks past tanks at a staging area.
Uriel Sinai, Getty Images![An Israeli soldier sits on his tank at a staging area on Nov. 16 near the border between Israel and Gaza. A ground invasion might be imminent, and troops, tanks and armored personnel carriers massed near the Palestinian territory.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120014-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
An Israeli soldier sits on his tank at a staging area on Nov. 16 near the border between Israel and Gaza. A ground invasion might be imminent, and troops, tanks and armored personnel carriers massed near the Palestinian territory.
Tsafrir Abayov, AP![Israeli soldiers walk toward their vehicles.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120013-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers walk toward their vehicles.
Tsafrir Abayov, AP![Israeli soldiers gather at a staging area for armored vehicles.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120012-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers gather at a staging area for armored vehicles.
Tsafrir Abayov, AP![Israeli soldiers work on their tanks near the border between Israel and Gaza.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120001-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers work on their tanks near the border between Israel and Gaza.
Ariel Schalit, AP![Israeli military reservists arrive at a staging point in Mishmar Hanegev. The Israeli government has approved the mobilization of 30,000 reservists.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120002-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli military reservists arrive at a staging point in Mishmar Hanegev. The Israeli government has approved the mobilization of 30,000 reservists.
Ilan Assayag, AP![Israeli soldiers pray on their tank.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120003-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers pray on their tank.
Menahem Kahana, AFP/Getty Images![An Israeli soldier waits in a jeep during a patrol near the border.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120004-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
An Israeli soldier waits in a jeep during a patrol near the border.
Ilia Yefimovich, Getty Images![Israeli soldiers prepare tanks at a staging area.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120005-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers prepare tanks at a staging area.
Ariel Schalit, AP![Israeli soldiers arrive at an army base.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120006-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers arrive at an army base.
Ilia Yefimovich, Getty Images![An Israeli tank maneuvers near the border.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120007-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
An Israeli tank maneuvers near the border.
Menahem Kahana, AFP/Getty Images![Israeli soldiers work on tanks near the Gaza border.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120008-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers work on tanks near the Gaza border.
Ariel Schalit, AP![Israeli soldiers rest in a large concrete pipe, used as protection against rockets fired by Palestinian militants, at a staging area near the Israel-Gaza border.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120009-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers rest in a large concrete pipe, used as protection against rockets fired by Palestinian militants, at a staging area near the Israel-Gaza border.
Menahem Kahana, AFP/Getty Images![Israeli soldiers prepare their weapons on their tank.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120010-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=375&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Israeli soldiers prepare their weapons on their tank.
Menahem Kahana, AFP/Getty Images![An Israeli soldier rides an armored personnel carrier Nov. 15 along the Israel-Gaza border.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/11/16/israelarmy1116120011-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
An Israeli soldier rides an armored personnel carrier Nov. 15 along the Israel-Gaza border.
Ariel Schalit, APFeatured Weekly Ad