Life in Gaza

About 1.4m Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, many of them in severe hardship because of the chronically unstable security situation and Israel's blockade and military offensives.

Israel is seeking the return of a soldier captured by militants in a cross-border raid in June.

The campaign added to pressure imposed on Palestinian areas after the election of the militant Hamas movement earlier in the year, an event which led to international funding being cut.

The BBC News website asked four Palestinians to describe conditions in Gaza.

Fathi Gaza City "We will be on strike until the government listens to us" Mona Near Jabaliya, northern Gaza "People are divided between Hamas and Fatah"

Majeda Khan Younis "We are back to square one - children are traumatised" Mamoun Gaza City "There is a lot of pressure on the banks"