Israel is constructing a large earthen barrier inside the Gaza Strip, with satellite imagery showing the structure extending beyond the area designated as the “Yellow Line” under the US-backed ceasefire arrangement. The development is raising concerns that the division of Gaza could become increasingly entrenched.
According to an Associated Press investigation based on satellite imagery, more than 23 kilometres (14 miles) of the barrier had been constructed in recent months. The earth berm and accompanying trench run through areas where Palestinian communities and homes have been demolished during Israeli military operations.
The barrier is being built across parts of central and southern Gaza and separates territory under Israeli military control from areas where Palestinians remain. AP reported that Israel’s military confirmed construction of the physical barrier around the Yellow Line.
The Yellow Line was established as part of a ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025 and was intended to mark the boundary from which Israeli forces would withdraw as part of a broader process. The construction of a substantial physical barrier beyond parts of that line has therefore raised questions about whether the current military division could become longer-lasting.
The development comes as Gaza remains under severe humanitarian pressure. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has reported continuing displacement near the Yellow Line as military operations and expanding restricted-access areas reduce the territory available to civilians. OCHA said people across Gaza remain confined to less than half of the Strip’s land area.
Palestinian fears have intensified that the construction could signal a permanent change to Gaza’s internal geography and make the eventual return of displaced families to areas beyond the barrier more difficult. At the same time, Israel has presented its military presence and security measures in the context of protecting its forces and addressing threats from Hamas.
The barrier’s construction comes as mediators continue efforts to advance the next phase of the ceasefire arrangement, including discussions over Hamas’ disarmament, humanitarian access, Palestinian governance and an eventual Israeli military withdrawal. Israeli forces nevertheless continue to control substantial portions of Gaza, complicating those negotiations.
