Israel completes the ‘iron wall’ barrier; Gaza border
On Tuesday, Israel claimed the completion of an “iron wall” along the Gaza border, equipped with hidden sensors, radars, and cameras to prevent threats.
Since 2007, when Hamas took power in the Palestinian enclave, Israel has maintained a siege on Gaza, restricting the passage of goods and people in and out of the two-million-strong area.
The 65-kilometer (40-mile) “barrier” which was finished after three and a half years of construction.
The iron-wall includes an “underground barrier with sensors,” a six-meter-high smart fence, radars, cameras, and a maritime monitoring system, according to an Israeli defense ministry statement.
According to Defense Minister Benny Gantz, the structure “places an iron wall… between the (Hamas) terror organization and the residents” of southern Israel.
Thousands of Palestinian rockets were fired at Israel during the most recent Hamas-Israel conflict in May, In prompting Israel to respond with hundreds of airstrikes.
In the 11 days of violence, over 240 people were killed in Gaza, while 12 people were killed in Israel.
But Israel has also warned its citizens to face additional threats from Hamas forces who could seek to infiltrate Israeli territory through tunnels dug under Gaza.
