Short answers, pulled from the story.
The name Gaza first appears in the military records of Thutmose III of New Kingdom Egypt during the 15th century BC. This ancient city served as a stop on the King's Highway, a crucial trade route connecting North Africa and the Levant.
Arab Muslim forces under Amr ibn al-As captured Gaza in 635 AD, making it the first city in the Palestine region to fall to the Rashidun army. The city was not destroyed despite stiff resistance, though its Byzantine garrison was massacred.
On the 2nd of November 2023, the siege of Gaza City officially started when Israel launched its offensive. By January 2024, Israel's actions had damaged or destroyed 70-80% of all buildings in northern Gaza.
Central Gaza sits on a low-lying round hill with elevation above sea level and municipal jurisdiction covers about 40 square kilometers southwest of Jerusalem and south of Tel Aviv. Surrounding localities include Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun, and Jabalia to the north plus Abu Middein village and Bureij refugee camp to the south.
Gaza had population of 590,481 people as of 2017 making it most populous city in Palestine until displacement during war. Population density reached 9,982.69 per square kilometer comparable to New York City but half Paris density.