Israel builds barrier far beyond Gaza's 'yellow line,' carving up 65% of the Strip
The Israeli military is constructing a ground barrier that extends for hundreds of meters beyond the so-called ‘yellow line’ in the war-torn Gaza Strip, which effectively divides the coastal sliver and further increases the regime's military presence in the area.
The yellow line is the demarcation line where the Israeli army was supposed to withdraw to under the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire that came into effect in October. Israeli military maps indicate the line extends 1.5 kilometers and 6.5 kilometers (0.9 to 4 miles) inside Gaza from its eastern boundary with the Israeli-occupied territories, and covers roughly 58 percent of the territory.
The Israeli Haaretz daily newspaper, citing an investigation based on recent satellite images, reported that the new barrier consists mainly of an earth berm and a trench, and has expanded the area under Israeli army control to 65% of the Gaza Strip.
According to the newspaper, the route of the barrier extends partially for hundreds of meters beyond the yellow line into regions that were designated as under control of the Hamas resistance movement at the time the ceasefire was declared.
In one part of southern Gaza, the barrier extends beyond the yellow line by more than a kilometer, Haaretz said.
In Rafah, the barrier crosses the yellow line by about 1,300 meters at one point, according to Haaretz.
The Israeli army has been working on the barrier for months, steadily expanding it.
Satellite images show that Israeli military personnel have systematically destroyed much of the land adjacent to the yellow line, flattening entire communities, ruining farmland, developing new transportation routes, and building military bases atop the remains of Palestinian neighborhoods. They also confirm that construction is progressing swiftly.
The expansion has been characterized as an Israeli attempt to divide the Gaza Strip.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have maintained their daily genocidal attacks in Gaza, leading to the fatalities of at least 1,168 Palestinians and injuring 3,798 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Since the onset of the regime's genocidal war on October 7, 2023, approximately 73,300 Palestinians have lost their lives, and 174,000 have sustained injuries, with 90% of Gaza's civilian infrastructure suffering damage or destruction.
New Hamas chief says Palestinian security key to stability in West Asia
Mamdani calls on US government to enforce ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu
Lebanese return to US 'pilot zones' to discover Israeli 'withdrawal' a hoax
US violations of MoU not surprising; war against Iran to spell end of US imperialism: Activist
US lawmakers express concern over Washington-Riyadh nuclear deal
‘Do not commit war crimes for anyone’: Iran urges US troops to reject unlawful orders
Iran’s Army warns to adopt ‘new scenarios’ if US aggression persists
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Hegseth seeks $70 billion for unwarranted Iran war
US House passes $1.15 trillion war bill bolstering Israel cooperation
VIDEO | Hormuz Strait information war
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
