Israel builds more than 23 kilometres of earthen barriers in Gaza, raising Palestinian fears of permanent division

Jul 21, 2026

The Israeli military is rapidly constructing a network of earthen barriers totaling more than 23 kilometers in the area of Gaza’s temporary “yellow line,” separating the more than half of the enclave under Israeli military control from the rest. Israel says the project is intended to prevent infiltration and protect its troops and nearby communities. Satellite imagery separately shows that Israeli forces have leveled the vast majority of buildings in the territory they control, virtually erasing several towns and Rafah. The project has heightened Palestinian fears that the temporary division could become permanent as implementation of the U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement remains stalled.

Gaza earthen barrier construction

▪The longest continuous stretch of the Gaza barrier runs nearly 17 kilometers from Khan Younis to near Gaza City, with construction having started in February 2026.
▪Satellite imagery shows that the Israeli military is constructing a network of earthen barriers totaling more than 23 kilometers in Gaza, separating the territory under its control from the rest of the enclave.
▪A portion of the earthen barrier in southern Gaza expanded from 500 meters on July 1, 2026, to approximately 2.4 kilometers by July 15, 2026.

Yellow line ceasefire boundary

▪The earthen barrier is being built along the yellow line, a temporary boundary designated under the October 2025 U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
▪The yellow line boundary was never precisely defined in the ceasefire agreement and has been inconsistently marked on the ground.

Israeli demolition of Palestinian areas

▪The demolition of structures by the Israeli military has virtually erased Rafah, which was once home to more than 250,000 residents.
▪Israeli forces have demolished the vast majority of buildings, flattened entire towns, and destroyed agricultural land on the side of the yellow line under their control.

New Israeli military infrastructure

▪The Israeli military has carved new road networks and erected new military bases on the ruins of demolished Palestinian towns.
▪The Israeli military has developed a security zone around the yellow line equipped with advanced intelligence and technological infrastructure.

Palestinian casualties since ceasefire

▪Israeli forces have killed Palestinians who approached or crossed the inconsistently marked yellow line; those killed included children and other civilians who appeared unaware of the boundary.
▪Israeli forces have killed more than 1,100 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly in airstrikes and drone strikes, since the ceasefire agreement took effect.

Ceasefire implementation stalemate

▪A former United Nations diplomat coordinating the ceasefire blamed the stalemate on Hamas's failure to disarm, while Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement.
▪Implementation of the ceasefire agreement, which requires Israel to eventually withdraw its troops to the edges of Gaza, has been stalled for months.