Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip, commonly referred to as Gaza, is one of the two Palestinian territories, alongside the West Bank, that constitute the State of Palestine in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. It is bordered by Egypt to the southwest and Israel to the east and north, with Gaza City serving as its capital and largest city.
The current territorial boundaries were defined after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, when the area came under Egyptian administration. During that conflict, it became a refuge for many Palestinians displaced from their homes. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel captured and occupied the Gaza Strip, beginning a long period of military administration over the Palestinian territories. The Oslo Accords in the mid-1990s established the Palestinian Authority as a limited self-governing body, initially led by Fatah. However, after Hamas won legislative elections in 2006 and took full control of Gaza the following year following internal conflict, the territory has been governed separately from the West Bank.
Restrictions on the movement of people and goods have existed since the early 1990s. In 2005, Israel withdrew its settlers and military forces from within Gaza and later imposed a blockade, which became stricter after Hamas assumed power. Egypt has also maintained restrictions on its border with Gaza. Despite the withdrawal of settlements, the territory remains subject to significant external controls, and many international bodies and observers have described life there as severely constrained, likening it to an open-air prison.
The Gaza Strip is a narrow coastal enclave, approximately forty kilometers long and between six and twelve kilometers wide. It is one of the most densely populated places on earth, with a young population—nearly half the residents are under eighteen—and a strong Palestinian identity rooted in decades of refuge, resistance, and resilience.
The region has a rich historical and cultural heritage. Its name dates back to ancient times, appearing in Egyptian, Assyrian, and biblical records. Over the centuries, it has been influenced by a succession of civilizations, including the Philistines, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottomans, and the British Mandate authorities. Sunni Islam is the predominant religion, with a small Christian minority.
In recent decades, Gaza has endured repeated conflicts, blockades, and humanitarian challenges, including high unemployment, limited access to clean water and electricity, and recurrent damage to infrastructure. Despite these difficulties, its people maintain strong educational attainment, cultural traditions, and a deep sense of national identity.
Efforts toward peace and resolution of the broader Israeli–Palestinian conflict continue to shape the territory’s future, with ongoing international attention focused on improving living conditions, ensuring freedom of movement, and achieving lasting political stability.
