Geography

The Gaza Strip: A Profile

Geography

The Gaza Strip is a narrow strip of land wedged between Israel and Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea. It is roughly the size of the U.S. state of Delaware.

The Gaza Strip occupies 140 square miles (363 square km) along the Mediterranean Sea, just northeast of the Sinai Peninsula.

The Gaza Strip is densely populated, with a population of over 2 million people.

History

The Gaza Strip has been ruled by various powers throughout its history, including the Egyptians, Romans, Ottomans, British, and Israelis.

In 1948, the Gaza Strip was occupied by Egypt during the Arab-Israeli War.

In 1967, Israel captured the Gaza Strip during the Six-Day War.

Current Situation

The Gaza Strip is currently controlled by Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist militant group.

Israel maintains a blockade of the Gaza Strip, which restricts the movement of people and goods.

The Gaza Strip has been the site of several conflicts between Israel and Hamas, including the 2008-2009 Gaza War and the 2014 Gaza War.

Recent Developments

In May 2021, Israeli ground forces reached across the full width of the Gaza Strip, according to satellite imagery.

The Israeli military said it was targeting Hamas tunnels and other infrastructure.

The fighting has caused widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip.