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.

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France's Macron: Gaza conditions are 'intolerable,' hopes to discuss it with Netanyahu and Trump

"We are reaching a level that we have never seen before, in terms of the humanitarian impact, since the beginning of this," said Macron.

By REUTERS
16/05/2025
 Family and friends of Israeli hostages brothers Ziv and Gali Berman, march through the streets of T

Hostage Families Forum criticize Gaza strikes, call to reach deal

"The effort to sabotage the proposals currently on the table will be remembered with contempt forever," the families stated.

UNSC discusses returning bodies of slain hostages to Israel

Ruby Chen, the father of slain hostage Itay Chen, began by describing his son and explaining how he was taken hostage. 

  An illustration US President Donald Trump and the Gaza Strip

Trump says US should take over Gaza Strip, turn it into a 'freedom zone'

This is the first time he has said this to Arab leaders in a formal setting, notably while in Qatar, which has played a major role in mediating the Gaza deal.

 Steve Witkoff seen on a background of Hamas terrorists and a protest sign featuring Donald Trump

Witkoff: Hamas is afraid of Trump - and the truth is, they should be

Witkoff made the statements to families of the remaining hostages while speaking about the release of Edan Alexander.

IDF resumes strikes near target area of Mohammed Sinwar

The IDF attempted to assassinate Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar on Tuesday in a strike on the European Hospital in Khan Yunis in Gaza.

Possible killing of Mohammed Sinwar may boost hostage deal efforts, source says

The assassination attempt occurred as the Israeli delegation for hostage and ceasefire talks arrived in Qatar on Tuesday evening.

Gazan from Rafah arrested while transporting Palestinian near Jerusalem

The incident occurred during an operation on Monday night, when police officers from the Jerusalem District noticed a vehicle entering a community near Jerusalem that raised suspicion. 

A divided Israel strengthens Hamas, Witkoff tells hostage families

"When you argue between yourselves, when you're disbanding as a society, do you know who's watching? Hamas," Witkoff told hostage families.

Israeli lawmakers ask: What is the goal of the renewed Gaza offensive?

The MKs added that so far, operational plans have been presented for the expansion of the war in Gaza, known as Operation Gideon’s Chariots.

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