Gaza City

Gaza City
Name	Gaza City
Native name	غَزَّة
Settlement type	City
Coordinates	31, 31, N, 34...
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision type1	Governorate
Subdivision name1	Gaza Governorate
Established title	Founded
Established date	15th century BCE
Government type	City (from 1994)
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Yahya al-Sarraj
Area total km2	45
Elevation m	14
Population total	590,481
Population as of	2017
Population density km2	auto
Timezone	PS
Utc offset	+2
Timezone DST	+3
Blank name	HDI (2021)
Blank info	0.705
Blank1 name	Website
Blank1 info	[https://www.gaza-city.org/ www.gaza-city.org]

Gaza City. It is the largest city in the State of Palestine and the administrative center of the Gaza Governorate. Located on the Mediterranean coast, it has been a strategically vital port city and a nexus of trade and conflict for millennia. The city is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited urban centers, with a history deeply intertwined with the Egyptian, Philistine, Assyrian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad, Crusader, Mamluk, and Ottoman civilizations.

History

The earliest known settlement dates to the 15th century BCE, mentioned in the annals of Pharaoh Thutmose III. It was a prominent city of the Philistines, famously clashing with the Israelites as depicted in the Biblical story of Samson. Successively ruled by the Assyrian Empire, Alexander the Great, and the Seleucid Empire, it was besieged by Alexander Jannaeus. Under Roman and later Byzantine control, it became an important center for early Christianity and was the site of the Council of Jerusalem. The Battle of Gaza in 634 CE opened the region to the Arab Muslim conquests, after which it flourished under the Umayyad Caliphate and Abbasid Caliphate. It was captured by the Crusaders in 1100, retaken by Saladin after the Battle of Hattin, and later became a key provincial capital under the Mamluk Sultanate. Incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, it was the scene of a major Allied victory over the Ottoman Army during the Third Battle of Gaza in World War I. Following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, it came under Egyptian administration, then Israeli military occupation after the Six-Day War. Since 1994, it has been governed by the Palestinian National Authority, with Hamas taking control after the 2007 Battle of Gaza.

Geography and climate

Situated on the Mediterranean coastal plain, it lies roughly midway between Tel Aviv and El-Arish. The city's terrain is generally flat, with sandy soil. It features a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, influenced by the sea. Average annual rainfall is relatively low, and the region is susceptible to heatwaves and occasional dust storms from the Sinai Peninsula.

Demographics

With a population exceeding half a million, it is one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world. The vast majority of residents are Palestinian Sunni Muslims, with a small, historic Christian community. A significant portion of the population consists of Palestinian refugees and their descendants who fled or were expelled from areas like Jaffa and Beersheba during the Nakba. The primary language is Palestinian Arabic.

Economy

Historically an agricultural and commercial hub for citrus fruits, the economy has been severely constrained by an Israeli and Egyptian blockade. Key sectors include small-scale manufacturing, textiles, and food processing. A large informal economy exists, alongside significant employment with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and other international organizations. The tunnel network to Egypt once facilitated a vital smuggling trade. The Port of Gaza has limited operational capacity.

Culture and landmarks

It is a major cultural center for Palestinian arts, literature, and education, home to Al-Azhar University – Gaza and the Islamic University of Gaza. Notable landmarks include the historic Great Mosque of Gaza, originally a Philistine temple and later a Crusader church, and the Church of Saint Porphyrius, one of the oldest active churches in the world. The Qasr al-Basha is a notable Mamluk-era fortress. The Gaza Mall represents a modern commercial landmark. The city hosts the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights.

Governance and infrastructure

Since 2007, de facto administrative control has been held by the Hamas government, contesting the authority of the Palestinian National Authority based in Ramallah. Municipal services are managed by the Gaza Municipality. The city suffers from chronic shortages in electricity, fuel, and clean water, relying on a single power plant and desalination units. Major hospitals include Al-Shifa Hospital and the Al-Quds Hospital of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. Primary transportation routes include Al-Rashid Street along the coast and the Salah al-Din Road.

Category:Populated places in the Gaza Strip Category:Cities in the State of Palestine Category:Port cities and towns in Asia