<span style="color: #222222;">Israel today said it has begun construction of a massive new Gaza border barrier. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that work to strengthen the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip had entered a new phase with the construction of an above-ground barrier. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said the barrier, set to stand six metres off the ground, will prevent terrorists from Gaza from penetrating into Israeli territory on the ground.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">This construction follows the 65-kilometre course of an underground barrier, also under construction, meant to neutralise the threat of cross-border tunnels built by Gaza militants.</span><br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Palestinians, now for nearly a year, have gathered at least weekly along the Gaza border for often-violent protests, calling for an end to the Israel's blockade of Gaza. At least 246 Palestinians have been killed since then by the Israeli forces.</span><br />