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.
US Army ships on their way to Gaza are part of the increased efforts by US-Israeli cooperation to increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Israeli FM Israel Katz and President Isaac Herzog thanked the two German officials for their support and called on them to work decisively against the Iranian regime.
The US, UAE, Egypt, and Jordan explore post-war solutions for Gaza, including an interim government and international support, as Hamas faces potential loss of control.
Mary Jane Rein leaves Clark University amidst controversy, citing lack of support. Joins Assumption University to lead civic dialogue center, addressing campus discord.
IDF destroys launchers in Gaza • Rocket directly hits building in north • US shoots down Houthi UAVs •IDF destroys Hezbollah launchers in Lebanon
The Israeli Defense Forces' claimed that a preliminary investigation had found its forces were not within firing range of the car in which she was trapped.
INSS has published “The Day After” strategic roadmap. Israel's strategic position is significantly improved by focusing on diplomatic and political solutions over military action.
Despite widespread media coverage and public demonstrations, the survey found that the majority of respondents in four European countries did not react actively to the conflict.
US legislators discuss Biden's Iran attack response • UN chief declines to condemn attack
Iran informed Turkey in advance of its planned operation against Israel, conveyed through diplomatic channels, aiming to limit escalation in the Middle East.
JPOST Digital Library
