Satellite Images Show Israeli Military Building Barrier in Gaza

Satellite images show the Israeli military building a giant earthen barrier separating the over 50% of the Gaza Strip it controls from the rest of the territory, according to the Associated Press (Lean Left bias). 

The Details: The images show over 14 miles have been constructed since February, running through Palestinian communities previously demolished by the Israeli military. Israel's military reportedly confirmed to AP it had built the barrier in the area of the so-called yellow line, the boundary to which Israeli troops withdrew under the October ceasefire deal with Hamas. The military also told AP it had also developed a "security zone" around the line, equipped with intelligence and technological assets. 

For Context: AP and the Times of Israel (Center) noted the line was envisioned in the US-backed agreement as a temporary division of the territory pending a fuller Israeli withdrawal. In July, Israel confirmed it controlled over 60% of Gaza Strip's territory.

Claiming the Land: AP emphasized the pace at which the military is constructing the barrier and said it was "heightening" Palestinian fears that Israel would not return the area of Gaza it controls. Conversely, the Jerusalem Post (Center) wrote, "Despite Palestinian and international concerns about Israel potentially moving for a longer-term land grab, the IDF has been compelled to withdraw multiple times from large portions of Gaza during the war, even after building large new bases." 

Crossing the Boundary: The Jerusalem Post cited the IDF saying the new boundary was "designed to make the no-go point for Palestinians clear to those residing in Hamas-controlled areas as well as to prevent any attempt by the terror group to infiltrate Israeli border towns." It also said it was "unclear whether the IDF's goal was to finish the wall across the entire Strip," or which part of the barrier Hamas and the over two million Palestinians would go. On the other hand, AP reported that Israeli forces "have orders to kill anyone crossing the boundary," though many of those killed included "children and other civilians seemingly unaware of the line." 

Who Covered the Story?: As of Tuesday evening, the story was mostly covered by local outlets, and those in the center and on the left, including the Washington Post (Lean Left). Most of these reshared AP's report, including the Washington Times (Lean Right), Newsmax (Right) and Breitbart (Right) – the only right-leaning outlets AllSides found to share or cover the story.

Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.