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Gaza Strip
قطاع غزة
Qita' Ghazza
Region
Map of the Gaza Strip
Map of the Gaza Strip
CountryPalestine
Area
 • Total360 km2 (140 sq mi)
Population
 • Total2,300,000
Important EventsOperation Al-Aqsa Storm
ShrinesShrine of Hashim b. 'Abd Manaf
MosquesHashim b. 'Abd Manaf Mosque

Gaza Strip (Arabic: قِطَاعُ غَزَّة, Qiṭāʿ Ghazza) is a territory in Palestine predominantly inhabited by Muslims, which came under the control of Hamas in 2005. In 2007, Hamas moved to establish administrative independence from the central Palestinian government, a maneuver that prompted a severe reaction from Israel. In response, Israel imposed a comprehensive blockade on Gaza and initiated plans for military operations against the territory.

The population of the Gaza Strip exceeds two million, with more than 98 percent identifying as Sunni Arab.

Location and Significance

The Gaza Strip is situated north of Egypt and west of Palestine,[1] with a population that is 98 percent Muslim. Christians constitute approximately one percent of the region's inhabitants. The dominant religious denomination in the area is Sunni Islam.[2]

Tradition holds that Hashim b. 'Abd Manaf, the great-grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad (s), is buried in Gaza. Consequently, the city was historically referred to as "Ghazzat al-Hashim" (Gaza of Hashim).[3] A shrine attributed to Hashim exists in the city, though it has reportedly faced repeated threats of destruction by Wahhabis.[4] Additionally, according to Yaqut al-Hamawi, Muhammad b. Idris al-Shafi'i, the eponymous founder of one of the Four Sunnis Schools, was born in Gaza.[5]

During the Early Islam era, the Gaza region served as a vital trade hub for the people of Mecca and Medina.[6] Hamas, one of the largest resistance factions in Palestine, was founded in Gaza before expanding its influence to other Palestinian territories.[7] The city occupies a central position in the broader landscape of Palestinian political developments.[8]

Israel has constructed a barrier wall separating the Gaza Strip from the occupied Palestinian territories, effectively delineating the border between Gaza and Zionist settlements.[9] The region encompasses the cities of Gaza, Jabalia, Rafah, Khan Yunis, Beit Hanoun, and Deir al-Balah.

The prolonged siege, recurrent military offensives, and civilian casualties inflicted by Israel in Gaza have drawn widespread condemnation from the Islamic World, particularly from Shi'a scholars. Sayyid Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has issued multiple messages condemning the atrocities committed in the region.[10] In Iran, January 19 (Day 29) has been designated as Gaza Day.[11]

Destruction of Gaza buildings during Israeli attacks (2023)

History

Arab governance of Gaza dates back to the pre-Islamic era. Historical accounts indicate that during the reign of Herod the Great (ruler of Judea or Jerusalem), the region was governed by an Arab ruler; likewise, at the advent of Islam, the region remained under Arab dominance.[12] Under the Ottoman Empire, the region witnessed conflicts between British forces and Ottoman Turks. In 1948, following regional hostilities,[13] Gaza was occupied by the Egyptian Army.[14] Subsequently, Israel has launched numerous attacks on the area.[15]

In 1967, the region fell under Israeli control. However, in 2005, following the Israeli withdrawal, control was transferred to Palestinian forces.[16] That same year, Hamas entered the political arena by winning elections in Palestine. Later, in 2007, following a conflict with Fatah forces led by Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas defeated the Fatah movement[note 1] and assumed administration of the Gaza Strip as a territory distinct from the rest of Palestine.[17]

Resistance against Israeli Occupation

After Hamas assumed control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, the region was subjected to a blockade by Israel. Israeli authorities have repeatedly restricted the flow of fuel, food, and medicine by closing border crossings.[18] Since 2007, all movement into and out of Gaza has been subject to inspection, and naval access to the Gaza coast has been prohibited by Israel. The region's airport, inaugurated in 1994, was destroyed by the Israeli army in 2001.[19]

Israeli Attacks on Gaza

Throughout its history, Gaza has been the target of numerous Israeli military offensives.

Table of Israeli Operations against Gaza
No. Operation Name Duration Casualties (Gaza Residents) Details
Start End Killed Wounded
1 Cast Lead[20] December 27, 2008[21] January 17, 2009[22] 1,419[23] 5,500[24] During this 22-day conflict, Israel initially bombarded Gaza from the air before launching a ground invasion. The war concluded with a unilateral ceasefire declared by Israel.[25]
2 Returning Echo March 9, 2012[26] March 14, 2012[27] 23 74 This conflict ended with the declaration of a ceasefire.[28]
3 Pillar of Defense[29] November 12, 2012[30] November 21, 2012[31] 105[32] 971[33] Hostilities ceased following a mutual ceasefire agreement.[34]
4 Protective Edge (51-Day War) July 8, 2014[35] August 26, 2014[36] 2,100[37] 10,196[38] Following the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers by Hamas operatives, Israel launched a comprehensive offensive on Gaza that lasted 51 days.[39]
5 March 2018[40] 170[41] Demonstrations by Gaza residents along the Israeli border were met with direct fire from Israeli soldiers.[42]
6 November 11, 2018[43] November 13, 2018[44] 3[45] 53[46] An Israeli incursion into Gaza territory provoked a response from Palestinian forces, resulting in the deaths of several Israeli soldiers. The conflict escalated into Israeli airstrikes and Palestinian rocket fire before ending after two days through Egyptian mediation.[47]
7 May 11, 2021[48] May 22, 2021[49] 248[50] 1,900[51] Following Hamas rocket fire in response to the expulsion of Muslims from the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israel, the Israeli military engaged Hamas with airstrikes on Gaza. The conflict persisted for 11 days.[52]
8 August 5, 2022[53] August 7, 2022[54] 44[55] 350[56] The assassination of a Hamas commander by Israel triggered a three-day conflict. In response to the assassination, Hamas launched 1,000 rockets toward Israel.[57]
9 Iron Swords[58] October 7, 2023[59] Ongoing 17,997 [60] 49,229 [61] Hamas forces launched a surprise ground and rocket assault on Israeli areas. In the aftermath, Israel commenced a major military operation against Gaza.[62]

Israeli Attacks on Infrastructure and Killing of Civilians in Gaza in 2023

Main article: Operation Al-Aqsa Storm

In October 2023, Operation Al-Aqsa Storm was launched by Hamas forces stationed in the Gaza Strip against Israel, targeting the occupied territories in an effort to liberate Palestine and confront Israeli occupation.[64] In retaliation, Israel struck residential and military zones within the Gaza Strip. Israel's measures during the confrontation with Hamas forces have included cutting off water and electricity supplies, bombing residential areas, killing civilians (including women and children), targeting medical staff and hospitals—such as the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital—and employing prohibited weaponry.[65]

According to Al Jazeera, citing Palestinian media, as of December 10, 2023, 17,997 people had been killed and 49,229 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza; the majority of casualties were women and children. Furthermore, during this period, the Israeli military dropped more than 52 tons of explosives on the Gaza Strip, destroying over 305,000 housing units and displacing more than 1,500,000 people.[66]

In the Israeli attack on the Al-Ahli Hospital alone, which was sheltering numerous Palestinian wounded and displaced persons, more than 500 civilians were killed.[67]

International Reactions

The killing of civilians—particularly women and children—the use of prohibited weapons, the bombing of medical centers, and attacks on relief personnel by Israel have provoked strong reactions from the public and governments worldwide against Israel and its supporters, including the United States.

Demographics and Culture

Based on statistics published in 2022, the population of the Gaza Strip exceeded 2.3 million, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world given its small geographic footprint.[68] The primary language of the region is Arabic, with English and Hebrew also occasionally spoken.[69] Eighty percent of the Gaza population is classified as economically impoverished.[70]

The Gaza Strip covers an area of more than 360 square kilometers.[71] It spans 41 kilometers in length, with a width varying between 6 and 12 kilometers.[72]

  • Ali b. Abi Talib (a) Mosque, located in the Zaytun neighborhood of southern Gaza City, prior to its destruction by Israel
    Ali b. Abi Talib (a) Mosque, located in the Zaytun neighborhood of southern Gaza City, prior to its destruction by Israel
  • The ruins of the Ali b. Abi Talib Mosque in Gaza following Israeli attacks in 2023
    The ruins of the Ali b. Abi Talib Mosque in Gaza following Israeli attacks in 2023
  • A view of destroyed residential buildings in Gaza (2023)
    A view of destroyed residential buildings in Gaza (2023)
  • The Mosque and Shrine of Hashim b. 'Abd Manaf in Gaza
    The Mosque and Shrine of Hashim b. 'Abd Manaf in Gaza

Notes

  1. ↑ al-Ḥamawī, Muʿjam al-buldān, 1995, vol. 4, p. 202.
  2. ↑ "Ghazza kujāst wa zindigī-yi rūzmarra-yi ghayr-niẓāmiyān dar ānjā chigūna ast?", Ensaf News.
  3. ↑ al-Ḥamawī, Muʿjam al-buldān, 1995, vol. 4, p. 202.
  4. ↑ Sanad, ʿImārat qubūr al-Nabī wa ahl baytihi (ṣ) mashʿar ilāhī, 1431 AH, vol. 1, p. 194.
  5. ↑ al-Ḥamawī, Muʿjam al-buldān, 1995, vol. 4, p. 202.
  6. ↑ ʿAlī, al-Mufaṣṣal fī tārīkh al-ʿArab qabl al-Islām, 1422 AH, vol. 4, p. 305.
  7. ↑ al-Nadwa al-ʿĀlamiyya li-l-Shabāb al-Islāmī, al-Mawsūʿa al-muyassara fī l-adyān wa l-madhāhib wa l-aḥzāb al-muʿāṣira, 1420 AH, vol. 1, p. 236.
  8. ↑ Mūsawī, "Jināyat-i Ghazza, ʿawāmil wa rīsha-hā", 1387 Sh, p. 86.
  9. ↑ "Dahumīn rūz az ʿamalīyāt-i Ṭūfān al-Aqṣā", al-Alam TV.
  10. ↑ Mūsawī, "Jināyat-i Ghazza, ʿawāmil wa rīsha-hā", p. 86.
  11. ↑ "Rūz-i Ghazza", Hawzah News Agency.
  12. ↑ ʿAlī, al-Mufaṣṣal fī tārīkh al-ʿArab qabl al-Islām, 1422 AH, vol. 2, p. 275.
  13. ↑ Majmūʿa min al-ʿUlamāʾ wa l-Bāḥithīn, al-Mawsūʿa al-ʿArabiyya al-muyassara, 2009, vol. 1, p. 2330.
  14. ↑ Mūsawī, "Jināyat-i Ghazza, ʿawāmil wa rīsha-hā", 1387 Sh, p. 86.
  15. ↑ Majmūʿa min al-ʿUlamāʾ wa l-Bāḥithīn, al-Mawsūʿa al-ʿArabiyya al-muyassara, 2009, vol. 1, p. 2330.
  16. ↑ Mūsawī, "Jināyat-i Ghazza, ʿawāmil wa rīsha-hā", 1387 Sh, p. 86.
  17. ↑ "Gurūh-i Islāmgirā-yi Ḥamās chīst?", BBC Persian.
  18. ↑ Mūsawī, "Jināyat-i Ghazza, ʿawāmil wa rīsha-hā", 1387 Sh, p. 86.
  19. ↑ "Ghazza kujāst wa zindigī-yi rūzmarra-yi ghayr-niẓāmiyān dar ānjā chigūna ast?", Ensaf News.
  20. ↑ "Hashtumīn sālgard-i ʿamalīyāt-i 'Surb-i Gudākhta' ʿalayh-i Ghazza; 83% qurbānī-hā 'ghayr-niẓāmī' būdand", Fars News Agency.
  21. ↑ "Hashtumīn sālgard-i ʿamalīyāt-i 'Surb-i Gudākhta' ʿalayh-i Ghazza; 83% qurbānī-hā 'ghayr-niẓāmī' būdand", Fars News Agency.
  22. ↑ "Hashtumīn sālgard-i ʿamalīyāt-i 'Surb-i Gudākhta' ʿalayh-i Ghazza; 83% qurbānī-hā 'ghayr-niẓāmī' būdand", Fars News Agency.
  23. ↑ "Hashtumīn sālgard-i ʿamalīyāt-i 'Surb-i Gudākhta' ʿalayh-i Ghazza; 83% qurbānī-hā 'ghayr-niẓāmī' būdand", Fars News Agency.
  24. ↑ "Hashtumīn sālgard-i ʿamalīyāt-i 'Surb-i Gudākhta' ʿalayh-i Ghazza; 83% qurbānī-hā 'ghayr-niẓāmī' būdand", Fars News Agency.
  25. ↑ "Hashtumīn sālgard-i ʿamalīyāt-i 'Surb-i Gudākhta' ʿalayh-i Ghazza; 83% qurbānī-hā 'ghayr-niẓāmī' būdand", Fars News Agency.
  26. ↑ "Isrāʾīl wa Falasṭīniyān dar Ghazza ātash-bas barqarār kardand", BBC News Agency.
  27. ↑ "Isrāʾīl wa Falasṭīniyān dar Ghazza ātash-bas barqarār kardand", BBC News Agency.
  28. ↑ "Isrāʾīl wa Falasṭīniyān dar Ghazza ātash-bas barqarār kardand", BBC News Agency.
  29. ↑ "Chigūnagī-yi āghāz, ahdāf wa dastāwardhā-yi muqāwamat dar 3 jang ʿalayh-i Ghazza", Fars News Agency.
  30. ↑ "Chigūnagī-yi āghāz, ahdāf wa dastāwardhā-yi muqāwamat dar 3 jang ʿalayh-i Ghazza", Fars News Agency.
  31. ↑ "Chigūnagī-yi āghāz, ahdāf wa dastāwardhā-yi muqāwamat dar 3 jang ʿalayh-i Ghazza", Fars News Agency.
  32. ↑ "The total numbers of victims of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip", pchrgaza.
  33. ↑ "The total numbers of victims of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip", pchrgaza.
  34. ↑ "Chigūnagī-yi āghāz, ahdāf wa dastāwardhā-yi muqāwamat dar 3 jang ʿalayh-i Ghazza", Fars News Agency.
  35. ↑ ʿArīḍī Maybudī, "Jang-i 2014 wa bāzdārandagī-yi Isrāʾīl", p. 52.
  36. ↑ ʿArīḍī Maybudī, "Jang-i 2014 wa bāzdārandagī-yi Isrāʾīl", p. 53.
  37. ↑ "Murūrī bar nazdīk bi dō daha munāqishāt-i Isrāʾīl wa Ḥamās az zamān-i ʿaqab-nishīnī-yi Isrāʾīl az Ghazza", Radio Farda.
  38. ↑ "Gaza death toll rises to 1959", dailysabah.
  39. ↑ "Murūrī bar nazdīk bi dō daha munāqishāt-i Isrāʾīl wa Ḥamās az zamān-i ʿaqab-nishīnī-yi Isrāʾīl az Ghazza", Radio Farda.
  40. ↑ "Murūrī bar nazdīk bi dō daha munāqishāt-i Isrāʾīl wa Ḥamās az zamān-i ʿaqab-nishīnī-yi Isrāʾīl az Ghazza", Radio Farda.
  41. ↑ "Murūrī bar nazdīk bi dō daha munāqishāt-i Isrāʾīl wa Ḥamās az zamān-i ʿaqab-nishīnī-yi Isrāʾīl az Ghazza", Radio Farda.
  42. ↑ "Murūrī bar nazdīk bi dō daha munāqishāt-i Isrāʾīl wa Ḥamās az zamān-i ʿaqab-nishīnī-yi Isrāʾīl az Ghazza", Radio Farda.
  43. ↑ "Israel-Gaza violence erupts after covert op killings", bbc.
  44. ↑ "Israel-Gaza violence erupts after covert op killings", bbc.
  45. ↑ "Israel-Gaza violence erupts after covert op killings", bbc.
  46. ↑ "Israel-Gaza violence erupts after covert op killings", bbc.
  47. ↑ "Israel-Gaza violence erupts after covert op killings", bbc.
  48. ↑ "Gaza attacks: Fear, finality, and farewells as bombs rained down", aljazeera.
  49. ↑ "Gaza attacks: Fear, finality, and farewells as bombs rained down", aljazeera.
  50. ↑ "Gaza attacks: Fear, finality, and farewells as bombs rained down", aljazeera.
  51. ↑ "Gaza attacks: Fear, finality, and farewells as bombs rained down", aljazeera.
  52. ↑ "Murūrī bar nazdīk bi dō daha munāqishāt-i Isrāʾīl wa Ḥamās az zamān-i ʿaqab-nishīnī-yi Isrāʾīl az Ghazza", Radio Farda.
  53. ↑ "Israel-Gaza: Palestinian girl dies from wounds sustained in bombing", middleeasteye.
  54. ↑ "Israel-Gaza: Palestinian girl dies from wounds sustained in bombing", middleeasteye.
  55. ↑ "Israel-Gaza: Palestinian girl dies from wounds sustained in bombing", middleeasteye.
  56. ↑ "Israel-Gaza: Palestinian girl dies from wounds sustained in bombing", middleeasteye.
  57. ↑ "Murūrī bar nazdīk bi dō daha munāqishāt-i Isrāʾīl wa Ḥamās az zamān-i ʿaqab-nishīnī-yi Isrāʾīl az Ghazza", Radio Farda.
  58. ↑ "IDF strikes Hamas as operation 'Iron Swords' commences", jpost.
  59. ↑ "IDF strikes Hamas as operation 'Iron Swords' commences", jpost.
  60. ↑ "Isrāʾīl dammarat akthar min 305 ālāf manzil fī Ghazza"
  61. ↑ "Isrāʾīl dammarat akthar min 305 ālāf manzil fī Ghazza"
  62. ↑ "Murūrī bar nazdīk bi dō daha munāqishāt-i Isrāʾīl wa Ḥamās az zamān-i ʿaqab-nishīnī-yi Isrāʾīl az Ghazza", Radio Farda.
  63. ↑ "Pāsukh-i Rahbar-i Inqilāb bi shubha-yi Nāṣibī būdan-i mardum-i Falasṭīn", Office of the Preservation and Publication of the Works of Ayatollah Khamenei.
  64. ↑ "Dahumīn rūz az ʿamalīyāt-i Ṭūfān al-Aqṣā", al-Alam TV.
  65. ↑ "Dahumīn rūz az ʿamalīyāt-i 'Ṭūfān al-Aqṣā'", al-Alam TV.
  66. ↑ "Isrāʾīl dammarat akthar min 305 ālāf manzil fī Ghazza"
  67. ↑ "Davāzdahumīn rūz az ʿamalīyāt-i Ṭūfān al-Aqṣā", al-Alam TV.
  68. ↑ "Ghazza kujāst wa zindigī-yi rūzmarra-yi ghayr-niẓāmiyān dar ānjā chigūna ast?", Ensaf News.
  69. ↑ "Ghazza kujāst wa zindigī-yi rūzmarra-yi ghayr-niẓāmiyān dar ānjā chigūna ast?", Ensaf News.
  70. ↑ Mūsawī, "Jināyat-i Ghazza, ʿawāmil wa rīsha-hā", 1387 Sh, p. 86.
  71. ↑ Mūsawī, "Jināyat-i Ghazza, ʿawāmil wa rīsha-hā", 1387 Sh, p. 86.
  72. ↑ "Iṭṭilāʿāt-i kullī darbāra-yi Nawār-i Ghazza"

References


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