Gaza City

• 1. Ancient Origins And Early History

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  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. For nearly 350 years, Egyptian forces controlled the settlement before the Philistines conquered it in the 12th century BC. The Philistines made Gaza part of their pentapolis, a group of five city-states that dominated the region. Alexander the Great besieged the city for five months before capturing it in 332 BC. He killed or captured most inhabitants and brought people from neighboring localities to repopulate the area. Under Roman rule starting in 63 BC, the city flourished with a diverse population including Greeks, Romans, Jews, and Egyptians. Emperor Hadrian visited in 130 AD and inaugurated wrestling and boxing competitions in the new stadium. A 500-member senate governed the city while pagan temples dedicated to gods like Zeus and Marnas stood throughout. Christianity began spreading through Gaza around 250 AD, eventually leading to the destruction of eight pagan temples by order of Theodosius II in 402.

• 2. Islamic Conquest And Medieval Development

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  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. Muhammad's great-grandfather Hashim ibn Abd Manaf is believed buried there, earning the name Ghazzat Hashim. In 767 AD, Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi'i was born in Gaza and later founded one of four major schools of Islamic law. The Great Mosque became the oldest mosque in the city after being converted from a church. Sultan Baybars rebuilt the mosque in the 13th century and endowed it with over 20,000 manuscripts. By the 10th century, geographer al-Maqdisi described Gaza as a large town on the highroad to Egypt. The Crusaders conquered the city in 1100 and King Baldwin III built a castle for the Knights Templar in 1149. Saladin captured Gaza in 1187 and destroyed its fortifications in 1191. Mongol leader Hulagu Khan completely destroyed Gaza in 1260, leaving it as his southernmost conquest. Mamluk slave-soldiers then began administering the area, making Gaza the capital of a province bearing its name in 1277.

• 3. Modern Conflicts And Occupation Cycles

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  Gaza fell to British forces during World War I in the Third Battle of Gaza in 1917. Following the war, the city became part of Mandatory Palestine. In 1945, the population stood at 34,250 people including 80 Jews who mostly left after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Egypt administered the newly formed Gaza Strip territory after the war, leading to sharp population growth from refugee influxes. Israeli occupation began during the Six-Day War in 1967, triggering frequent conflicts between Palestinians and Israeli authorities since the 1970s. The First Intifada erupted in 1987 with Gaza serving as a center of confrontation. Leaders of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization signed the Oslo Accords in September 1993, transferring administration to the Palestinian National Authority in May 1994. Yasser Arafat chose Gaza as the PNA's first provincial headquarters. Hamas won surprise victory in elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council on the 25th of January 2006. Armed conflict broke out between Fatah and Hamas factions in months following that election, resulting in Hamas taking power in 2007. An Israeli-led blockade supported by Egypt followed, though Israel eased restrictions allowing consumer goods in June 2010.

• 4. The Devastating 2023 Gaza War

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  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. About 300,000 people remained in the city while most residents fled or were killed during the fighting. At least 64,964 people died in the Strip according to available records. Seventy percent of the city was destroyed by airstrikes targeting residential areas and infrastructure. The Great Mosque collapsed leaving only ruins after being bombed at the beginning of the war. The Public Library holding nearly 10,000 books was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike on the 27th of November 2023. Five journalists including crew from Al-Jazeera Network were killed in an air strike on the 10th of August 2025. South Africa initiated proceedings at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. The remaining population faced a humanitarian crisis with widespread starvation brought on by the ongoing conflict. Most structures dating from Mamluk and Ottoman eras were reduced to rubble during this period.

• 5. Geography And Urban Layout

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  Central Gaza sits on a low-lying round hill with elevation above sea level. Much of the modern city spreads along the plain below the hill, especially to the north and east forming suburbs. The beach and port lie west of the city's nucleus with space between entirely built up on low-lying hills. 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. Population depends on groundwater as the only source for drinking, agricultural use, and domestic supply. The Gaza Aquifer consists mostly of Pleistocene sandstones while clay minerals partially alleviate groundwater contamination. A prominent hill southeast known as Tell al-Muntar has elevation above sea level and is claimed as where Samson brought Philistine city gates. Old City forms main part of Gaza's nucleus divided into northern Daraj Quarter and southern Zaytun Quarter. Seven historic gates once existed including Bab Asqalan, Bab al-Darum, and Bab al-Bahr. Thirteen districts exist outside the Old City including Shuja'iyya, Tuffah, Rimal, Zeitoun, Nasser, and Sheikh Radwan.

• 6. Demographics And Religious Composition

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  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. More than half being 19 and under with 60.8% under age 19 according to 1997 census data. About 28.8% were between ages 20 and 44 while only 3.9% exceeded age 64. The population overwhelmingly consists of Muslims following Sunni Islam though a Christian minority of about 3,500 people exists. Most Christians live in Zaytun Quarter belonging to Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Baptist denominations. In 1906 there were approximately 750 Christians with 700 Orthodox and 50 Roman Catholic. Gaza's Jewish community lasted roughly 3,000 years with sixty households recorded in 1481. Fifty families lived in Gaza during 1929 Palestine riots before fleeing after the 1948 War. Today no Jews reside in Gaza according to available records. Before World War I population reached 42,000 but fierce battles caused massive decrease to 17,480 residents by 1922 census. A massive influx of Palestinian refugees swelled numbers after 1948 war growing six times its 1948 size by 1967.

• 7. Economy And Resource Scarcity

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  Major agricultural products include strawberries, citrus, dates, olives, flowers, and various vegetables despite pollution reducing farm capacity. Small-scale industries produce plastics, construction materials, textiles, furniture, pottery, tiles, copperware, and carpets. Since Oslo Accords thousands work in government ministries, security services, UNRWA, and international organizations. In 2008, 95% of industrial operations suspended due to lack of access inputs for production. Unemployment approached 40% in 2009 while private sector generating 53% of all jobs was devastated. By December 2007 only 1,700 factories remained employed out of 3,900 operating in June 2005. Agriculture affected nearly 40,000 workers dependent on cash crops during blockade periods. Food prices rose significantly with wheat flour up 34%, rice up 21%, and baby powder up 30%. Households spent average 62% of total income on food compared to 37% in 2004. Number of families depending on UNRWA food aid increased tenfold within less than a decade. Eighty percent population relied on humanitarian aid in 2008 compared to 63% in 2006. Economy grew by 8% in first 11 months of 2010 following easing of closure policy. Natural gas reserves discovered offshore known as Gaza Marine hold potential but project interrupted during 2000-2005 uprisings.