GAZA STRIP — The Israel Defense Forces confirmed it has been building a large sand-wall barrier separating the portion of the Gaza Strip it controls from areas controlled by Hamas. The military confirmed the construction of a physical barrier in the area of the so-called yellow line, the boundary to which Israeli troops withdrew under the October ceasefire deal with Hamas.

More than 23 kilometers of the barrier have been constructed in recent months, running through areas where Palestinian communities once stood but have been demolished. Planet Labs PBC observed the topographical changes using satellite imagery and provided them. The 23-kilometer barrier is equivalent to more than half the length of the Gaza Strip, which is approximately 40 kilometers long and 11 kilometers wide at its widest point.

The IDF it has developed a security zone around the line, equipped with intelligence and technological assets. The IDF stated the new boundary was designed to make the no-go point for Palestinians clear and to prevent infiltration attempts by Hamas into Israeli border towns. The barrier aims to prevent infiltration and protect Israeli troops and Israeli communities near Gaza, the IDF said. The IDF said it is working to clearly mark the route of the yellow line to reduce friction and prevent harm to uninvolved individuals. The IDF declined to elaborate on the size, details, or specific goals of the new construction.

Construction on the longest stretch of the barrier, which runs nearly unbroken for around 17 kilometers from Khan Yunis to near Gaza City, began in February. A portion of the sand-wall network in southern Gaza was extended by more than 2 kilometers between July 1 and July 15. The southern Gaza network increased from about 500 meters on July 1 to about 2.4 kilometers on July 15.

The extended barrier in southern Gaza cuts through the ruins of Rafah, separating it from the al-Mawasi coastal refugee camps. More than a kilometer was added to the barrier between June 21 and July 7, running close to an Israeli military base built on the ruins of Bani Suheila near Khan Younis. Several unconnected stretches of berms run just outside the largely leveled town of Beit Lahia in the far north of Gaza.

In recent months, the IDF has pushed Hamas back from the 47% line closer to a 30% line. The IDF says it is demolishing infrastructure used by Hamas. Satellite imagery shows that Israeli forces have leveled the vast majority of buildings in the half of Gaza it controls, using bulldozers and explosives.

Israeli forces have carved new road networks and erected new bases on the ruins of Palestinian towns. Agricultural land in the Israeli-controlled half of Gaza has been destroyed. Neither CENTCOM nor the Board of Peace responded to AP inquiries about the barrier. Neither U.S. Central Command nor the Board of Peace would comment on the barrier.

The construction of the barrier represents a significant physical transformation of the Gaza Strip, altering the landscape established by the October ceasefire deal. The barrier runs through areas where communities have been demolished, and satellite imagery confirms that Israeli forces have leveled buildings and destroyed agricultural land in the controlled zone. The IDF has expanded its control beyond the original ceasefire lines, pushing closer to a 30% line from a previous 47% line, while establishing a security zone equipped with intelligence and technological assets.

The barrier separates the Israeli-controlled area from Hamas-controlled zones, with the IDF stating the goal is to prevent infiltration and protect troops and communities. The construction includes extensive networks running from Khan Yunis to near Gaza City and through the ruins of Rafah. The lack of comment from U.S. Central Command and the Board of Peace leaves the broader diplomatic context unaddressed, while the IDF continues to mark the yellow line to reduce friction. The physical changes, including new road networks and bases on the ruins of Palestinian towns, indicate a long-term alteration of the territory's infrastructure.