Gaza Strip is the name given to a narrow territorial extension located in the Middle East and bordering Egypt and Israel.
This border is separated by fences as a result of the conflict between Israel and Palestine that dispute the ownership of this region.
The name Gaza Strip comes from the main city in the region, Gaza.
- Extensionterritorial: 365 km²
- NumberinPopulation: 1.7 million
- Language: Arabic
- Coin: New Israeli Shekel
Origin
Initially, Gaza City was dominated by the Ottoman Empire, but with the end of World War I, in 1918, its domain passed to England.
The Gaza Strip emerged between 1948 and 1949, when Palestine was divided into three parts: the State of Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
With the creation of the State of Israel, many Palestinians took refuge in the Gaza Strip. From 1950, Egypt began to control the region, until in 1967 Israel won the Six Day War and incorporated some areas into its territory, including the Gaza Strip.
Gaza Strip Flag
Geography and Demography
The climate in the Gaza Strip is characterized by being arid. The region is flat and bathed by the Mediterranean Sea. The border with Egypt extends for 11 km long, while the border with Israel for 51 km.
Its cities are: Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, Deir al-Balah, Gaza, Jabalia, Khan Yunis, Rafa.
In addition to the fact that the population is young - one of the youngest in the world - the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip are quite numerous.
Its population increases annually, making the region the seventh highest population growth rate in the world.
A considerable part of its inhabitants are Palestinian refugees, so the predominant religion is the Islam. Due to the number of Israeli inhabitants, there are only a few followers of Judaism.
As a result of the conflicts between Israel and Palestine, the region suffers from poverty, poor infrastructure, lack of basic sanitation, lack of water and food.
Learn more about Middle East.
War
The conflict that is historic and has already led thousands of people - many of them civilians - to death, is based on the dispute for territory.
Palestine says the Gaza Strip belongs to the Palestinians, while the Israelis say it is their right to own the region.
This dispute also includes the possession of water from the Jordan river, in addition to the contradictions of a religious order.
International initiatives to promote peace between these two peoples have not been successful.
Learn more about the war in the Gaza Strip at Israel Palestine Conflict.
