India, July 22 -- The Israeli military is quietly but quickly building a giant earthen barrier separating the over 50 per cent of the Gaza Strip it controls from the rest of the territory, according to satellite imagery, further entrenching the division of the tiny Palestinian enclave.

More than 23 kilometres have been constructed in recent months, running through Palestinian communities demolished by the military. That is equivalent to more than half the length of the coastal strip, which is some 40 kilometres long and 11 kilometres wide, and home to over 2 million Palestinians. When presented with the satellite images, Israel's military confirmed to The Associated Press it has built a physical barrier in the area of the so-called yello...