The Gaza Strip, or Gaza, is located on the Mediterranean Sea coast. It shares its borders with Egypt about 11 km to the southwest, and with Israel to the north and east. The territory is approximately 41 km in length and about 12 km in width. It is comprised of a total area of 365 square kilometers.Gaza has an approximate population of 1.85 million people which means that Gaza is the most densely populated polity on earth.
From 1948 to 1967, Gaza fell under the authority and administration of Egypt. This was ended by the Six-Day War in 1967, and Gaza has been under Israeli control since. Since 2006, Gaza has been subject to Israeli blockades that prevent goods necessary for living and survival from entering Gaza.
Gaza strip contains five cities: Gaza, North Gaza, Deer Al Balah, Khan Yunis, and Rafah. Gaza is also known as “Gaza Hashim because it refers to Hashim Bin Abed Manaf, the grandfather of the Prophet Mohammed.
Gaza is considered a gateway to Asia, and an entrance to Africa because of its location between Egypt and the Levant, which makes Gaza an important transport route throughout its history. It is famous for its agricultural products, such as citrus, grapes, figs, berries, and melons. Gaza is full of markets that offer grains and vegetables, and livestock. The industrial sector plays an important role in the craft industry. Gaza caters to the tourist industry by providing numerous hotels, restaurants, and popular cafes at affordable prices for tourists.
Gaza is home to many archaeological and historical sites, including the Al-Aumari Mosque which is the oldest and the biggest mosque in all of Gaza. The mosque has an area of 4100 square meters. The Greek Orthodox Church is located in the Al-Zaitoon neighborhood. It dates back to the Mamaluke era of the fifth century.
There is mosaic flooring, discovered in 1966, located near the Gaza port. This flooring dates to the sixth century. Um, Amer Hill which is located to the south of Al-Nusairat Camp also contains colored mosaic flooring dating back to the Byzantine era. In addition to these sites, Gaza also contains a Roman Byzantine cemetery as well as a Baroque castle which was built in 1387.
Gaza’s climate is a typical Mediterranean climate, with mild winters, and dry, hot summers. Spring starts in March and April and the hottest months are July and August. The average high temperature is 33 Celsius (91F). January is the coldest month of the year with an average temperature of 7 Celsius (45F). Rainfall is rare, but it will typically fall between the months of November and March.
