Gaza Strip

A densely populated coastal territory on the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Israel and Egypt. It is part of the Palestinian territories and has been governed by Hamas since 2007.

1948 Arab–Israeli War: A war fought in 1947–1949 between Israel and neighboring Arab states and Palestinian forces. The war displaced many Palestinians into Gaza and established the territory’s first postwar boundaries.
Hamas: A Palestinian Islamist political and militant organization founded in 1987. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 and has governed the territory since.
Gaza–Israel barrier: A system of fences, walls, sensors, and patrol infrastructure along Gaza’s boundary with Israel. It restricts and monitors movement across much of Gaza’s land boundary with Israel.
Palestinian refugees: Palestinians displaced from their homes during the 1948 war and their descendants, as defined by UNRWA’s mandate. A large share of Gaza’s population consists of refugees and their descendants.
West Bank: A landlocked Palestinian territory between Israel and Jordan, including East Jerusalem under Palestinian claims. It is the other principal territory claimed for a Palestinian state, but its governance and geography differ from Gaza’s.
1949 Armistice Agreements: Agreements that ended the main fighting between Israel and neighboring Arab states without establishing permanent borders. The Egypt–Israel agreement set the armistice line that shaped Gaza’s boundary with Israel.
Palestinian Authority: An interim Palestinian self-governing body created under the Oslo Accords. The Authority administered Gaza before Hamas seized control and retains a claim to Palestinian governance.
Rafah Border Crossing: A crossing between Gaza and Egypt, at the southern edge of the territory. It is Gaza’s principal crossing not directly into Israel, though access has been restricted and politically mediated.
Gaza City: The largest city in the Gaza Strip and a major Palestinian urban center. It is Gaza’s principal population center and a frequent focus of military operations.
State of Palestine: A state proclaimed by the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1988 and recognized by many countries. Gaza is one of the territories claimed as part of the State of Palestine.

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