Israel says it has started reinforcing its border fence with the Gaza Strip, erecting a galvanised steel barrier six metres high that will run the length of territory.
Photo: AFP
Israel's Defence Ministry issued a statement Sunday saying it had commenced construction of an above-ground barrier that complemented a subterranean wall aimed at thwarting Hamas attack tunnels beneath the border.
The fence's construction comes after months of mass protests by Palestinians in Gaza along the border.
Over the weekend, we began building the above-ground barrier along the Gaza border. The barrier will prevent terrorists from Gaza from penetrating into our territory on the ground. If the quiet is not maintained in Gaza, we will not hesitate to act. pic.twitter.com/vmQWT8g3ZW
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) February 3, 2019
Nearly 190 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since they began last March. An Israeli soldier was killed by a Palestinian sniper last July.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the new barrier "will prevent terrorists from Gaza from penetrating into our territory on the ground".
PM Netanyahu: "Over the weekend we began building the above-ground barrier along the Gaza border. The barrier will prevent terrorists from Gaza from penetrating into our territory on the ground. pic.twitter.com/WH7LBl7mWx
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 3, 2019
- AP
