Israeli defence officials say work has begun on a wall deep underground along the border with Gaza for the purposes of thwarting infiltration by Hamas through its tunnels.
Israel’s barrier will eventually extend to about 37 miles along the border with Gaza and be equipped with sensors. It was designed, said officials, to replace the existing walls and fences bordering the coastal enclave of Gaza, which is home to 1.8 million Palestinians and has been ruled by Hamas since 2007. Reports in the Israeli media have suggested that the wall will cost close to $600m.
