Gaza Strip
Context: At least 14 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight and into Sunday across the Gaza Strip, according to local health officials.
Important Pointers:
Location: Gaza Strip is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Name Origin: Named after its principal city, Gaza.
Geopolitical Context: It is the smaller of the two Palestinian territories, the other being the West Bank.
Borders: Israel (north and east), Egypt (south), Mediterranean Sea (west).
Size: Around 41 km long and 10 km wide.
Climate: Temperate, with mild winters and hot, dry summers.
Population: Over 2 million people, making it one of the most densely populated regions in the world.
Religion: The majority of the population are Palestinians, predominantly Sunni Muslims.
1948–1967: Egypt controlled Gaza after Israel declared statehood in 1948.
1967 Six-Day War: Israel captured the Gaza Strip and West Bank from Arab states.
Post-1967 to 2005: Israel controlled Gaza and built 21 Jewish settlements.
2005 Withdrawal: Israel withdrew settlers and military from Gaza, handing administrative control to the Palestinian Authority.
Current Ruler: Since 2007, Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organization, governs Gaza.
Hamas vs. Palestinian Authority: Hamas does not recognize Israel, unlike the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority.
Blockade: Israel has maintained a land, air, and sea blockade of Gaza since 2007, citing security concerns post-Hamas takeover.