Israel's military has constructed more than 23 kilometres of earthen berm across the Gaza Strip, dividing territory it still occupies from the rest of the enclave, satellite imagery shows.
The barrier runs along the so-called yellow line, behind which Israeli forces withdrew under an October 2025 ceasefire with Hamas. The longest stretch spans 17 kilometres from Khan Younis toward Gaza City, cutting through destroyed neighbourhoods. One section in southern Gaza was extended from 500 metres to 2.4 kilometres in just two weeks this month. Israel still occupies roughly half of the 365-square-kilometre strip.
Since the truce began, Israeli forces have killed more than 1,100 Palestinians, mostly in airstrikes and drone attacks, while five Israeli soldiers have died in Hamas attacks. On Sunday, far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich marched toward the Gaza border. Smotrich said in March that preparations for three settlements in Gaza were complete, ahead of elections scheduled for late October.