Gaza Strip

Definition/Scope: The Gaza Strip is a coastal strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Egypt on the south-west and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about 25 miles long, and between 4–7.5 miles wide, with a total area of 139 sq miles. The area is recognized internationally as part of the Palestinian territories. Actual control of the area is in the hands of Hamas, the democratically elected de facto government. Egypt governed the Gaza Strip from 1948-67, and today rules the southern border between the Gaza strip and the Sinai desert. Israel governed the Gaza Strip from 1967-2005. Pursuant to the Oslo Accords signed between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, Israel maintains military control of the Gaza strip’s airspace, non-Egyptian land borders and territorial waters. The territory takes its name from Gaza, its main city.

Broader Terms:

European Union
Palestinian Authority
Southwest Asia

Narrower Terms:

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade
Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip
Fatah
HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)
Mughazi refugee camp
refugee
Shawaz

Related Terms:

counterinsurgency
Egypt
Israel
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades
Mediterranean Sea
Oslo Peace Accords
Palestinian Liberation Organization
Palestinian National Authority
Palestinian People’s Party
refugee
West Bank