world
No New Construction at Proposed Rafah Site in Satellite Imagery; Israeli Military Expansions in Gaza
Satellite imagery shows no progress on the proposed US-backed 'New Rafah' reconstruction in southern Gaza, with images from February to March 2026 indicating stalled rubble clearance. Meanwhile, Israeli military fortifications are expanding across the enclave, including new bases and berms.
Apr 20, 9:42 PM·3m read1 source
AJ
38north.orgAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
Developing·Limited corroboration so far. This page will refresh as more sources emerge.
Satellite images taken from February 20 to March 4, 2026, show no new construction or rubble clearance at the proposed site for the US-backed 'New Rafah' in southern Gaza, according to an Al Jazeera Digital Investigations Unit examination of Planet Labs and Sentinel Hub imagery.
The city of Rafah was flattened by two years of Israeli bombardment. Analysis of imagery from February 25 to March 15, 2026, confirmed that rubble removal has ceased in Beit Hanoon in northern Gaza and Rafah. Israeli military fortifications are expanding across Gaza, particularly in Rafah, as Israeli forces entrench military sites throughout the enclave.
Satellite imagery from March 10, 2026, shows extensive clearing and fortification at al-Muntar hilltop in Shujayea, a neighbourhood in Gaza City, and outposts in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. Sentinel imagery from March 15, 2026, revealed ongoing work on a trench and dirt berm reaching as far as the Maghazi camp near Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.
In Juhor ad-Dik, new roads link established military sites to newly levelled areas. A late 2025 investigation by Forensic Architecture identified 48 Israeli military sites within Gaza, with 13 of those built after an October ceasefire. These sites include paved roads, watchtowers, and constant communication links to Israel’s domestic military network.
Satellite images captured from February 20 to March 10, 2026, reveal significant engineering and expansion work at an Israeli military outpost in eastern Gaza City. Continuous development, paving, and construction of fortifications appear in satellite images of an Israeli military site in Khan Younis from March 2026.
