Israel building earthen barrier to split Gaza in two
An earthen barrier built by the Israeli military in southern Gaza. Photo: Collected
Israeli authorities are rapidly constructing a massive earthen barrier to separate more than 50 percent of the Gaza Strip that is under their control. After analyzing satellite imagery, the Associated Press (AP) reported that the barrier has already reached nearly 23 kilometers in length.
According to the AP report, since the Gaza Strip is about 40 kilometers long, the barrier now stretches across more than half of the territory’s length. Built over the past several months, the long barrier runs through several Palestinian communities in Gaza. Those areas had already been destroyed by Israeli forces.
After the satellite images were published, the Israeli military confirmed that it had built a physical barrier along the so called ‘Yellow Line.’ During the ceasefire agreement with Hamas last October, the line was designated as the limit of the Israeli military’s withdrawal. Under the US backed agreement, it was considered a temporary dividing line until a full Israeli withdrawal.
However, as the ceasefire has effectively stalled, Palestinians fear that the temporary dividing line could eventually become a permanent border.
The US Central Command, also known as CENTCOM, and the Board of Peace, formed under US President Donald Trump to oversee Gaza’s future, did not comment on the matter.
The Israeli military said that, in addition to the barrier, an intelligence and technology based security zone has also been established around the Yellow Line.
According to the military, the purpose is to prevent infiltration and ensure the security of troops and communities near the border. However, it did not say how far the barrier would be extended in the future.
Satellite imagery showed that, in just the first two weeks of this month, the barrier in one part of southern Gaza expanded from 500 meters to nearly 2.4 kilometers. As a result, the devastated city of Rafah has become cut off from the Al Mawasi area. Several large Palestinian tent camps are currently located there.
If construction continues at the current pace, that section could connect with another earthen barrier stretching about 17 kilometers from Khan Younis to near Gaza City. Construction on that section began in February and work to extend it farther south is ongoing. Several isolated earthen barriers have also been identified near the destroyed city of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza.
The exact location of the Yellow Line has never been officially defined and is not clearly visible on the ground in all areas. The Israeli military said it is now working to clearly mark the boundary in order to reduce clashes and avoid civilian casualties.
However, according to AP, many Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while approaching or crossing the Yellow Line. The dead include children and civilians who were likely unaware of the boundary.
According to several Israeli soldiers, they did not always know whom they were firing at, and they had been ordered to shoot anyone who crossed the boundary.
