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.
In addition to the four IDF soldiers killed while fighting in southern Gaza, the IDF stated that an additional five were wounded.
Israeli officials hold situational assessment • Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani wounded • Harris calls for end to Gaza war
Ahmad al-Khashash was responsible for managing the PIJ’s rocket unit in the Rafah region, with a role involving managing and directing rocket fire towards Israel’s home front.
The October 7 Hamas invasion exposed severe shortcomings in Israel’s preparedness and response. Explore the multi-faceted responsibilities and lessons that must be addressed for a safer future.
In August 2023, Hanan al-Bayouk gave birth to premature triplets in East Jerusalem but had to leave them due to Gaza-Israel conflict restrictions.
Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar praised the Yemeni Houthis for their missile strike on Israel, marking their first attack on central Israel.
See the latest photos of troops completing training exercises ahead of their military activities in Gaza.
The atrocities of October 7 and the intentions by its perpetrators to wipe Israel – and in fact all Jews – entirely off the map were stated quite clearly, out loud, with no equivocation.
Hostages Elia Toledano, Nik Beizer, and Ron Sherman were confirmed as killed due to Israeli strikes that killed Hamas brigade chief Ahmed Ghandour.
PM: "We are in a multi-front campaign against Iran's evil axis that strives to destroy us. Anyone who attacks us will not escape."
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