Israeli reservists rest before crossing into the northern Gaza Strip January 12, 2009. An Israeli military spokesman said army reservists had been thrown into the campaign that Israel launched with the declared aim of ending cross-border rocket attacks from the Hamas-ruled territory to its south. Israeli troops fought gun battles with Hamas fighters on Monday, keeping military pressure on the Islamist group while avoiding all-out urban warfare that would complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war.

　　Israeli reservists hold their weapons before crossing the border into the northern Gaza Strip January 12, 2009. An Israeli military spokesman said army reservists had been thrown into the campaign that Israel launched with the declared aim of ending cross-border rocket attacks from the Hamas-ruled territory to its south. Israeli troops fought gun battles with Hamas fighters on Monday, keeping military pressure on the Islamist group while avoiding all-out urban warfare that would complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war.

As international pressure is mounting up for an early ceasefire, a high-ranking Israeli defense official is expected to pay his second visit to Cairo in the coming days, following a trip last week, for talks over a possible Gaza ceasefire.

Olmert reiterated earlier Monday that his nation must ensure an end to both anti-Israel rocket fire from and weaponry smuggling into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip before accepting any ceasefire.