Israel is building an earthen barrier that could split the Gaza Strip in half — AP
The Israeli military is constructing a massive earthen barrier that could separate more than half of the Gaza Strip under Israeli control from the rest of the enclave.
According to the Associated Press, more than 23 kilometers of earthen embankment have already been built in recent months, running through destroyed Palestinian communities. This is more than half the length of the Gaza Strip, which stretches approximately 40 kilometers.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed to the AP that the barrier is being built along the so-called “Yellow Line”—the boundary to which Israeli troops withdrew in accordance with the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. According to military officials, the structure is intended to prevent the infiltration of militants and protect Israeli units and communities near Gaza.
In addition to the earthen embankment, a “security zone” equipped with surveillance systems and modern technology has been established along this line. However, Israeli officials have not disclosed how far the new barrier will extend.
As the AP notes, if construction continues along the current route, the barrier will connect to the existing 17-kilometer section between Khan Yunis and the outskirts of Gaza City.
Satellite images also show that east of the “yellow line,” Israeli forces have demolished a significant portion of the built-up area—including the city of Rafah—and have built new roads and established military bases. Israel justifies these actions by citing the need to dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure.
At the same time, the agency emphasizes that the “yellow line” was not clearly defined either in the text of the ceasefire agreement or by official Israeli or American representatives. According to the AP, after the ceasefire took effect, Israeli forces repeatedly opened fire on Palestinians approaching this boundary; civilians were among the dead.
According to the agency, since the ceasefire took effect, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, while five Israeli soldiers were killed in militant attacks.
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Israel was supposed to eventually withdraw its troops closer to the border, where they were to be replaced by international security forces. However, the AP notes that the implementation of these agreements has been stalled for several months.
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