Israeli military builds 23 km earthen barrier across Gaza

The Israeli military is constructing a large-scale earthen barrier across the Gaza Strip, a project documented by satellite imagery that is physically dividing the territory and cementing Israeli control over more than half of the Palestinian enclave. The military confirmed the construction of the physical barrier along the so-called "yellow line," the boundary established under a U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement reached in October.

More than 23 kilometers (14 miles) of the berm network have been built in recent months, a length exceeding half of Gaza's 40-kilometer coastal strip. Satellite data from Planet Labs PBC shows construction is accelerating, particularly in southern Gaza. One section separating the ruins of Rafah from the Muwasi tent camps grew from 500 meters to 2.4 kilometers between July 1 and July 15. This southern network is on a trajectory to merge with the longest existing stretch, a nearly unbroken 17-kilometer barrier running from Khan Younis toward Gaza City, where construction began in February.

The Israeli military stated the barrier and an accompanying "security zone" equipped with intelligence assets are intended to prevent infiltration and protect its...