Israël élève un grand mur de sable à Gaza: des images satellites montrent la nouvelle barrière qui sépare la bande

The Israeli military has constructed a large sand wall along parts of the Gaza Strip, according to satellite images released by Planet Labs. The barrier, which runs parallel to the so-called Yellow Line, a demarcation established during the ceasefire with Hamas following the October 2025 agreement, has been built over several months. The wall separates areas under Israeli control from those still held by Hamas, where approximately two million Palestinians reside. The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed the construction to Associated Press, stating that the barrier was erected within the area of the Yellow Line, which they have expanded since October 2025. The Yellow Line was originally drawn as part of the Trump administration’s 20-point peace plan, which envisioned a phased Israeli withdrawal from the territory. However, this phase has yet to materialize, and the U.S. government has not pressured Israel to withdraw its forces or halt territorial expansion. According to AP, more than 23 kilometers of the barrier have been constructed, passing through zones previously occupied by Israeli troops and later destroyed by heavy bombardment. Some images show the wall being raised in uninhabited areas, where only rubble and damaged infrastructure remain. In addition to the physical barrier, the IDF has established a “security zone” equipped with advanced technology and surveillance systems, as revealed by Associated Press. The wall aims to prevent infiltration by Hamas militants and protect Israeli troops and nearby communities. This comes after a deadly attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which killed over 1,200 people and triggered a prolonged Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip lasting nearly two years. EFE reports that the sand wall has also been constructed in southern Gaza, stretching from the coastal town of Mawasi eastward, parallel to the Yellow Line. Israeli officials have declined to provide further details about the structure or extent of the barrier, citing operational security concerns. Witnesses interviewed by EFE described daily gunfire during the construction process, resulting in casualties among residents living in displacement camps. One such victim was nine-year-old Moataz, who was shot while with his mother in their tent. His uncle, Mahmud al Maghari, showed EFE the bullet holes in the plastic roof of their shelter and described how the child was fatally wounded. Al Maghari recounted that the shootings occurred regularly during the construction period, causing injuries to multiple families residing in the camps. These camps were established to accommodate displaced Gazans after the intense Israeli bombing campaign that ended in October 2025, which resulted in over 70,000 deaths, including more than 20,000 children. Since then, violence has continued at a lower intensity, with over 1,100 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks, many near the Yellow Line. Recent weeks have seen increased aerial strikes targeting suspected Hamas militants in the region.