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.

Officials discuss Gaza reconstruction at MEAD conference, current plans 'not progressing'

Figures presented at the conference showed that 1.2 million Palestinians had been displaced from their homes and 370,000 homes had been damaged or destroyed, including 70,000 that were damaged.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2026|ByAMIR BOHBOT

The MEAD conference kicked off in Washington on September 8, 2026.

The commander of Hamas’s Khan Yunis Brigade who was reportedly killed in an IDF strike September 11, 2026.

IDF kills Hamas Khan Yunis Brigade commander in Gaza Strip air strike

The strike targeted a vehicle in the Hamad neighborhood, north of Khan Yunis, after which a residential apartment on the first floor of Tower M caught fire.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2026|ByAVI ASHKENAZI , JERUSALEM POST STAFF

UNRWA has operated schools for generations of Palestinian children in Gaza, but its education system has faced mounting scrutiny over the curriculum and materials used in its classrooms.

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For years, UNRWA schools bred extremism in Gaza - now, the monopoly is breaking - opinion

After years of scrutiny over UNRWA schools, new education models are emerging for Gaza’s children

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Limor Son Har-Melech with husband Shuli Har-Melech.

Hamas terrorist behind 2003 murder of Shalom Har-Melech killed in IDF strike in Gaza

The facilities, which were located in three different parts of the Strip, were utilized by Hamas to "store weapons, explosive devices, anti-tank missiles, and additional military equipment."

SEPTEMBER 10, 2026|ByJONAH DAVIDOV

Israel should kill ‘30-40’ Gazans every night, Ben-Gvir says on ex-hostage’s podcast

"I think that we need to do targeted strikes in Gaza every night, take out 30, 40 - not just those who endanger us in that moment," Ben-Gvir said.

AUGUST 17, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Otzma Yehudit party chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, together with members of his party, attends a supporters’ conference ahead of the upcoming general elections in Petah Tikva, central Israel, August 16, 2026.

Trump says Iran won't make the deal he thinks is needed, will not extend MoU

Iran targets Kurdistan prime minister with drones • Houthis launch attack at Bab al-Mandeb • Iraqi PM pledges to monopolize arms

AUGUST 17, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Israeli forces conduct a military operation in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus in the West Bank, August 12, 2026.

Eight Arab, Islamic nations accuse Israel of derailing Trump's Gaza peace plan

In a joint statement, the countries accused Israel of undermining efforts to fully end the war with Hamas in Gaza and derailing Trump’s push to cement conditions necessary for long-lasting peace.

AUGUST 16, 2026ByGOLDIE KATZ

(Front row, L/R) Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, hosted by US President Donald Trump.

International Arab Book Fair emerges as platform for Islamist axis, Hamas support

During the event, the secretary general of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), a Muslim Brotherhood organization operating from Qatar, called for aid to be transferred to Gaza.

AUGUST 16, 2026ByANNA BARSKY

People visit the 35th edition of the Doha International Book Fair at the Qatari capital's exhibition and convention center, on May 15, 2026.

Hezbollah attempts to resupply operatives trapped underground, Iran continues executing protesters

Hamas delegation arrives in Cairo to discuss BoP deal • IDF reportedly diverts forces to West Bank to combat settler extremism • IDF strikes Hezbollah command center

AUGUST 16, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Debris is strewn across the jetty in the Port of Mokha the day after an attack by the Houthis on the city of Mokha, held by Yemen's internationally recognised, Aden-based government on August 10, 2026.

Three soldiers wounded in Hezbollah attack, no injuries reported after IDF tank hits bomb in Gaza

Some 15 settlers enter Kusra despite IDF closure • Three Iranian military pilots held captive in Qatar for six months without contact; Qatar denies reports, says it found remains of one

AUGUST 15, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF