Israel Constructs Over 23 km of Earthen Barrier Within Gaza Strip
Satellite images show the Israeli military has built more than 23 kilometres of earthen barrier inside the Gaza Strip, which it says is intended to protect troops and nearby Israeli communities.
Satellite imagery analysed by Planet Labs confirms that the Israeli Defence Forces have erected an earthen barrier extending more than 23 kilometres (14 miles) across the portion of the Gaza Strip it controls. The barrier runs through areas where Palestinian homes have been demolished and follows parts of the so-called Yellow Line, the boundary established under the October cease-fire agreement with Hamas.
The Israeli military told the Associated Press that the structure is part of a “security zone” equipped with intelligence and technological assets, and that it is intended to prevent infiltration and safeguard Israeli forces and nearby communities. Officials declined to specify how far the barrier will be extended.
Construction began in February on a stretch that now runs roughly 17 kilometres (10 miles) from Khan Younis toward Gaza City. Recent images show an additional 2.4 kilometres (1.5 miles) added in southern Gaza between early July, linking the Israeli-controlled ruins of Rafah with the Mawasi area, where large tent camps are located. Separate sections of berms also appear near Beit Lahiya in the north.
The barrier’s height and exact route have not been disclosed, and U.S. monitoring bodies have not commented on the development. The Israeli Defence Forces said the work aims to reduce friction and protect uninvolved individuals by clearly marking the Yellow Line.
Since the cease-fire took effect, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports more than 1,100 Palestinian deaths, while Israeli sources cite five soldier fatalities. The broader cease-fire arrangement, part of a U.S.–backed plan that envisions an eventual Israeli withdrawal and an international security presence, remains stalled amid ongoing disputes over disarmament of Hamas.