Israel has secretly started building a wall in Gaza - 14 miles completed so far

Satellite images reveal that the Israeli army is currently quietly and rapidly constructing a massive earth barrier stretching for several kilometers within the Gaza Strip. According to satellite imagery from Planet Labs PBC, this construction has brought more than 50% of the Gaza Strip, where over two million Palestinians live, under Israeli control, separating it from other areas.

The total length of this barrier, which runs through areas where destroyed Palestinian communities once lived, is now reported to be more than 14 miles.

To divide the Gaza Strip, which is approximately 25 miles long and 7 miles wide, the Israeli army has used the "yellow line," the boundary from which they withdrew under the ceasefire agreement with Hamas last October. Although initially considered a temporary boundary under the ceasefire agreement, active until Israeli forces completely withdrew, the nature of the current construction suggests that Israel plans to remain permanently within that boundary.

Commenting on these constructions, the Israeli army told the Associated Press (AP) that it is a "security zone" built with intelligence and technological facilities to protect Israeli forces and Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip, and to prevent unauthorized entry. However, they have refused to provide any specific information regarding the barrier's future path or how far it will be extended. The United States Central Command (US Central Command) has also refrained from commenting on this barrier.

This barrier network in the southern part of the Gaza Strip has been extended by approximately 1.2 miles within a short period of two weeks this month. It was about 0.3 miles long on July 1st and grew to 1.5 miles by July 15th, passing between the Israeli-controlled area of Rafah city and the Muwasi area, where a massive Palestinian tent camp is located. If these construction activities continue in their current direction, it will connect with the main barrier that continuously stretches for about 10 miles from the southern area of Khan Younis to near Gaza City. Additionally, another barrier of approximately 0.6 miles has been newly added between June 21st and July 7th near an Israeli military base built on the ruins of Bani Suheila in the vicinity of Khan Younis city.

The half of the Gaza Strip now under Israeli control has been almost completely depopulated and destroyed. Most buildings on the other side of the yellow line have been razed using bulldozers and explosives, and infrastructure used by Hamas, as well as agricultural lands, have been completely destroyed. New road systems and military camps have been built on the ruins of destroyed Palestinian towns and Rafah city, while most displaced Palestinians now live in extremely difficult conditions, relying on aid in tent camps in the coastal area west of the yellow line.

Some Israeli soldiers have stated that they have orders to shoot anyone approaching or crossing the barrier, while the military officially claims they only shoot at militants who pose a threat to their forces. However, it has been confirmed that among those killed near this boundary were children and other civilians who had no understanding of this line. Since the start of the ceasefire, over 1,100 Palestinians have died from Israeli air and drone strikes, while only five Israeli soldiers have died from militant attacks during the same period. Recently, an Israeli attack on Gaza City reportedly killed four children aged between 6 and 13 and their parents, with the military stating that they had attacked Hamas militants present in the area at the time.