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

Family marks Bar Kuperstein’s 23rd birthday in Hamas captivity at Hostages Square

Bar's father, Tal, invited the public to mark Bar's birthday in a public ceremony at Hostages Square.

01/04/2025

Comptroller warned Netanyahu, Gallant of border negligence ahead of Oct. 7

The report comes along with Englman’s new report on Tuesday, which slammed border security on the northern border during the mid-2023 period.

 IDF soldiers are seen operating in the Binyamin region of the West Bank, March 27, 2025

What happened on day 542 of the war?

Family marks Bar Kuperstein’s 23rd birthday in Hamas captivity at Hostages Square • IDF, Shin Bet conduct strikes targeting Hezbollah terrorist in Beirut

Conquer, hold, build: Israel must win the peace in Gaza before reconstruction begins

When Israel can hold the territory and reassure the inhabitants that there will be no reemergence of Hamas, the rebuilding can begin. 

By DANIEL M. ROSEN
31/03/2025

IDF prepares for imminent Rafah evacuation, barring Hamas release of hostages

Israel has paused the Gaza invasion to allow time for a potential hostage deal before advancing further and triggering mass civilian evacuations.

 IDF soldiers operate in the northern Gaza Strip,  March 31, 2025.

What happened on day 541 of the war?

Netanyahu speaks with parents of Gaza hostage Yosef-Chaim Ohana • Iranian missiles 'ready for launch' Tehran Times reports

 Odai al-Rabei's picture seen in the foreground of anti-Hamas protests in Gaza, March 26, 2025

Palestinian dissident abducted, tortured, and killed by Hamas in Gaza

Hamas loyalists claimed that Odai al-Rabei's alleged participation in anti-Hamas protests meant he was a "traitor."

30/03/2025
Likud MK Amit Halevi speaks at a dicussion in the Knesset, Jerusalem, Israel, March 27, 2025

Israel wants to occupy and 'cleanse' Gaza, Likud lawmaker says

"We want to occupy the territory in order to cleanse it of the enemy; otherwise, he will kill your children and kidnap your grandchildren again," he said. 

By WALLA!
30/03/2025
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen over posters of Israeli hostages in Gaza

Netanyahu stresses military pressure on Hamas is working as Gaza war rages

Netanyahu added that the security cabinet had decided on Saturday to increase operations against Hamas. 

Red Cross 'gravely concerned' for Red Crescent medics missing in Gaza

The Red Cross said it had not had contact with the crew since March 23.

29/03/2025
Subscribe for our daily newsletter
Subscribe for our daily newsletter

By subscribing I accept the terms of use and privacy policy