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Israel completes 70% of underground barrier along Gaza fence

October 1, 2019 at 9:45 am

Israel’s underwater barrier designed to further blockade the besieged Gaza Strip, seen during construction in 2018 at Zikim beach, approximately three kilometres from Gaza’s northern frontier

About 70 per cent of construction works has been completed to the underground Israeli barrier along the east of the Gaza Strip, the Shehab News Agency reported yesterday.

Reporting the Israeli TV Channel 12, Shehab said that 1,400 Israeli and foreign workers had completed 43 of the 60 kilometres of the underground barrier.

The barrier consists of two parts; one above ground – which is six metres high – and one underground, whose depth is kept as a secret.

Labourers are working 24 hours a day, six days a week to complete the barrier.

Since the construction started, Channel 12 reported, the Israeli occupation army claimed it had discovered 17 cross-border tunnels allegedly dug by Palestinians.

Reporting a senior Israeli military official, Channel 12 said that after the barrier is completed, infiltration or penetration of Israeli would be an “impossible mission”.

In June 2018, Channel 10 reported that the Israeli occupation army told the government that it would not be dragged into a war with Gaza before the barrier is complete.

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