An Israeli infantry soldier who had just returned to southern Israel from fighting inside the Gaza Strip performs morning prayers early on 13 January 2009 in a staging area, before leaving on a bus for a base for rest. The soldiers from the Givati infantry brigade had been inside Gaza since the first day of the ground forces operations and were replaced by older, reserve solders. It is the 18th day of Israel's war against the Hamas forces . Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

An Israeli infantry soldier who had just returned to southern Israel from fighting inside the Gaza Strip performs morning prayers early on 13 January 2009 in a staging area, before leaving on a bus for a base for rest. The soldiers from the Givati infantry brigade had been inside Gaza since the first day of the ground forces operations and were replaced by older, reserve solders. It is the 18th day of Israel's war against the Hamas forces . Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

An Israeli infantry soldier who had just returned to southern Israel from fighting inside the Gaza Strip performs morning prayers early on 13 January 2009 in a staging area, before leaving on a bus for a base for rest. The soldiers from the Givati infantry brigade had been inside Gaza since the first day of the ground forces operations and were replaced by older, reserve solders. It is the 18th day of Israel's war against the Hamas forces . Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

An Israeli infantry soldier who had just returned to southern Israel from fighting inside the Gaza Strip performs morning prayers early on 13 January 2009 in a staging area, before leaving on a bus for a base for rest. The soldiers from the Givati infantry brigade had been inside Gaza since the first day of the ground forces operations and were replaced by older, reserve solders. It is the 18th day of Israel's war against the Hamas forces . Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, and are now leaving the area. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, and are now leaving the area. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, and are now leaving the area. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, and are now leaving the area. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, and are now leaving the area. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, and are now leaving the area. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, and are now leaving the area. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, and are now leaving the area. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

Israeli infantry soldiers in a good mood as they rrive early on 13 January 2009 to a staging area in southern Israel from fighting inside the Gaza Strip. The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, had been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas . Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, and are now leaving the area . Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, which now is in its 18th day . Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

Israeli infantry soldiers who had just returned to southern Israel from fighting inside the Gaza Strip early on 13 January 2009 rest on their equipment early on 13 January 2009 in a staging area before being bused to a base for rest. The soldiers from the Givati infantry brigade had been inside Gaza since the first day of the ground forces operations and were replaced by older, reserve solders. It is the 18th day of Israel's war against the Hamas forces . Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

Israeli infantry soldiers who had just returned to southern Israel from fighting inside the Gaza Strip early on 13 January 2009 rest on their equipment early on 13 January 2009 in a staging area before being bused to a base for rest. The soldiers from the Givati infantry brigade had been inside Gaza since the first day of the ground forces operations and were replaced by older, reserve solders. It is the 18th day of Israel's war against the Hamas forces . Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

Israeli infantry soldiers who had just returned to southern Israel from fighting inside the Gaza Strip early on 13 January 2009 rest on their equipment early on 13 January 2009 in a staging area before being bused to a base for rest. The soldiers from the Givati infantry brigade had been inside Gaza since the first day of the ground forces operations and were replaced by older, reserve solders. It is the 18th day of Israel's war against the Hamas forces . Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

Israeli infantry soldiers who had just returned to southern Israel from fighting inside the Gaza Strip early on 13 January 2009 rest on their equipment early on 13 January 2009 in a staging area before being bused to a base for rest. The soldiers from the Givati infantry brigade had been inside Gaza since the first day of the ground forces operations and were replaced by older, reserve solders. It is the 18th day of Israel's war against the Hamas forces . Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

Israeli infantry soldiers who had just returned to southern Israel from fighting inside the Gaza Strip early on 13 January 2009 rest on their equipment early on 13 January 2009 in a staging area before being bused to a base for rest. The soldiers from the Givati infantry brigade had been inside Gaza since the first day of the ground forces operations and were replaced by older, reserve solders. It is the 18th day of Israel's war against the Hamas forces . Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, and are now leaving the area. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, and are now leaving the area. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, have been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, and are now leaving the area. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

The soldiers, from the Givati infantry brigade, had been inside the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israel's ground opffensive in its war against Hamas, which now is in its 18th day. They now are loading the bus with their personal belongings on their way home. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

An Israeli infantry soldier sleeps in a bus after a large group of Givati infantry soldiers returned to southern Israel on 13 January 2009 morning from fighting inside the Gaza Strip. The soldiers packed their gear in trucks and took buses to a base for a rest. shadow of another soldier falls on the sleeping soldier.It is the 18th day of Israel's war against the Hamas forces and Palestinians report over 900 people have been killed. Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90