Gaza Strip

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.

Gaza Strip

Netanyahu insists he offered Trump nothing to secure US president's election endorsement

WATCH: Joint List to air footage of Gaza’s destruction in Israeli election broadcast

Foreign journalists still cannot enter Gaza without military escort, Israel tells High Court

IDF kills three Hamas terrorists, including commander, during latests Gaza strikes

IDF kills Hamas Nukhba commander in Gaza who infiltrated Re'im base on October 7

'An insane reality': Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of blocking hostage deal despite unanimous support

Netanyahu declined proposal to strike Hamas terrorists in Gaza weeks before Oct. 7 - report

IDF blocks roads leading to Gaza border after Nahala settlers attempt to build outpost overnight

IDF kills two terrorists in Gaza Strip for roles in October 7, attempts to harm Israeli civilians

As airstrikes in Gaza continue, support for 'armed resistance' grows, Hamas popularity drops - poll

Gaza rebuilding efforts gain German support as Israel reportedly blocks international troop base

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee meets with Gadi Eisenkot over West Bank, Gaza, settler violence

IDF Manpower Directorate head recounts former hostage's story of abuse in Gaza at memorial event

US Embassy in Israel issues safety warning about unexploded ordnances after school trip explosion