Al Jazeera’s fact-checking agency, Sanad, has revealed. The crossing between Egypt and Gaza at Rafah, which has served as a critical lifeline into the enclave for decades, was closed by Israel in May 2024. Since seizing control of the border area, in breach of its 1979 peace agreement with Egypt, Israel has been digging in the Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometer  (8.7-mile) strip of land along the boundary between Egypt and Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasised the importance of remaining in the corridor, despite the illegality.

According to Sanad, the images, taken between January 19th and 21st, show the Israeli army to have built sand fortifications across the Rafah crossing. Additionally, the agency said, a new military outpost has been established just to the north of the crossing. The army has also constructed a 1.7 kilometer (1.1-mile) road surrounding the crossing, running parallel to the sand fortifications.