Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip, often referred to simply as Gaza, is a small coastal territory in the Southern Levant that is north of Egypt's Sinai, East of the Mediterranean Sea, and South-West of Israel. 

The long-standing ruler of the Gaza Strip is Hamas, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by most Western states and international governmental organizations. Under Hamas, Gaza has been in a state of conflict with Israel. Several other terrorist organizations reside in Gaza and take part in the hostilities, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, ISIS offshoots and others. 

Gaza is home to 1.5 million Palestinians, largely Sunni Muslim, some who identify as refugees or descendants of refugees from territory now belonging to Israel. Gaza has a very young population, but is very impoverished due to mismanagement, corruption, conflict, and the redirection of taxes and financial aid to warfare. 

Due to the conflict between Gaza and Israel, the territory has been under blockade since 2007, though it shares one border and crossing, Rafah, with Egypt. A significant amount of smuggling occurs on this border, often through tunnels.

Gaza is surrounded by defensive structures created by the Israel Defense Forces to counter Gazan terrorist attacks. This includes a sensor fence that rings the perimeter, an underground barrier to prevent and detect tunneling, and a naval barrier to prevent naval frogman infiltration.

Rockets fired from Gaza have presented a major strategic challenge to Israel. Military infrastructure runs through Gaza's cities, including rocket infrastructure. Launch sites, munitions storage, command & control centers, bunkers and more can be found throughout Gaza, much of it underground. In the past, Hamas leaders have claimed that 500 kilometers of tunnel systems are laced throughout the Strip. 

Gaza was part of the British Mandate after the territory was relinquished by the UK from the Ottoman Empire after World War I. After the Mandate dissolved, it was seized during Israel's War of Independence by Egypt, and ruled by the Egyptian puppet All-Palestine Government. During the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured the territory, and it was not returned along with other Egyptian holdings after the two made peace in the 1970s. 21 Israeli settlements were established within Gaza, but in 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Strip. In 2006, the Palestinians held legislative elections, but when Hamas won, there was a civil war, and Hamas seized full control of Gaza.

 From the disengagement onwards, Hamas and other terrorist organizations increased terrorist attacks against Israelis, and several operations have been fought to quell Gazan attacks, including 2008's Cast Lead, 2011's Pillar of Defense, 2014's Protective Edge, and 2021's Guardian of the Walls.

Read More
Less

Gallant, Gantz slam idea of incremental military gov’t in Gaza; Smotrich accuses them of weakness

Gallant made this statement in response to discussions about distributing food to Palestinian residents of Gaza by private companies under the IDF's security.

IDF announces fallen soldier Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Roi Sasson killed in northern Gaza Strip

In the same incident, the commander of the Nahshon Battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel Yoel Glickman, was severely wounded.

Israel at war: What happened on day 410?

Several troops, civilians wounded in North • IDF provides war scorecard for past month • Hezbollah rockets hit UNIFIL twice

Cigarettes for $1,000: regulated aid in Gaza leads to rise in looters, smugglers

The blockade and tightly regulated aid have led to the resurgence of the smuggling industry.

By YOAV SHUSTER
20/11/2024
 PHILADELPHI CORRIDOR view, between southern Gaza Strip and Egypt, seen July 15.

G20 draft statement on Gaza stirs Israeli unease over perceived bias

The G20 Conference in Rio de Janeiro is expected to focus on its core agenda of socioeconomic and financial matters, but its final declaration may touch on the situation in Gaza.

By NATHAN KLABIN/THE MEDIA LINE
19/11/2024

Hamas's Oct. 7 attack stirs controversy and mixed reactions among Gaza clerics

On Monday, a statement issued in the name of "a group of clerics" in Gaza defended the Oct. 7 attacks as a "legitimate act."

By REUTERS
19/11/2024

Over 1,000 blood units transferred to northern Gaza hospital in COGAT-led effort

The Erez West crossing, near Zikim, was opened during the war to transport humanitarian aid.

Hamas-Iran alliance: Captured documents expose decades-long terror funding

The documents seized by IDF troops offer a rare glimpse into the extent of Iran's penetration into Hamas.

By AVI ASHKENAZI
19/11/2024
 IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip. November 3, 2024.

Hamas's last bastion: What the fall of Jabalya could mean for a hostage deal

The IDF's 162nd Division has severely disrupted Hamas's attempts to rebuild its forces in the northern Gaza Strip.

By AVI ASHKENAZI
19/11/2024
 IDF troops operate in the Gaza Strip. November 7, 2024.

Closing in: IDF troops kill Hamas terrorists in underground Gaza shaft

During activities in the area, troops killed dozens of terrorists in close-quarters combat and via aerial fire. 

Subscribe for our daily newsletter
Subscribe for our daily newsletter

By subscribing I accept the terms of use and privacy policy