History of the Gaza Strip

The history of the Gaza Strip refers to the history of the Gaza Strip, mainly since the end of Mandatory Palestine. This area has been the center of many important events over the years. For the history of Gaza City specifically, see History of Gaza. The Gaza Strip has seen changes in who controls it and has been a place where many people have lived through difficult times. Understanding its history helps us know why events there are important today.

Before 1948

The Gaza Strip was once part of the Palestine region. Starting in the 16th century, it was ruled by the Ottoman Empire. In 1906, the Ottomans and the British Empire agreed on the area's border with Egypt. After World War I, when the Ottoman Empire ended, Britain took control of the area. From 1920 to 1948, it was part of what was called "Mandatory Palestine". During this time, villages along the coast grew larger, and farming became more important.

1948–1959: All-Palestine government

Main articles: All-Palestine Protectorate and All-Palestine Government

During the 1948 Palestine war and the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, many people from Palestine moved to the Gaza Strip. By the end of the war, a large number of these people were living in Gaza, even though the area was small.

In 1948, some leaders in Gaza created a government called the All-Palestine Government. This was done while Egypt controlled the area. Many countries supported this new government, but it did not have much power or money of its own. Later, during a conflict in 1956 called the Suez Crisis, Israeli forces entered Gaza but left after pressure from other countries. The All-Palestine Government eventually stopped operating in 1959.

1956–1957: Israeli occupation

Main article: Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip

Further information: Suez Crisis

In 1956, during a conflict called the Suez Crisis, Israel entered Gaza and nearby areas. There were many fights between soldiers, and some towns were taken after tough battles. After the fighting, many people were hurt or sadly lost their lives, which led to sadness around the world. Israel stayed in control for a short time before leaving in 1957 due to pressure from other countries.

1959–1967: Egyptian occupation

Main article: Occupation of the Gaza Strip by Egypt

After the end of a government in 1959, Egypt controlled Gaza until 1967. Egypt managed the area with a military leader but did not make it part of the country. Many people who had to leave their homes during a war in 1948 came to Gaza, increasing the number of people there. This made life harder for everyone because there were not enough jobs, and Egypt did not let people move in or out easily.

1967: Israeli occupation

Main article: Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip

See also: Israeli Military Governorate and Israeli Civil Administration

In June 1967, during a big war called the Six-Day War, Israeli forces took control of Gaza. After this, many people who were thought to be fighting against this control faced serious problems.

From 1967 to 1968, many people were moved away from their homes in Gaza. Over time, Israel built areas where its people could live in Gaza, taking up space that belonged to others. This made it hard for many families to live normally and work, especially in farming.

1987: First Intifada

Main article: First Intifada

The First Intifada was a long period of protests and unrest led by Palestinians in areas controlled by Israel, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. It began in December 1987 after a tragic accident where an Israeli army truck hit a civilian car, leading to anger and frustration among Palestinians. This event sparked widespread protests, with people showing their disapproval through strikes, boycotts, and peaceful actions. There were also moments of violence, including people throwing stones and making homemade fireworks at Israeli forces. The Intifada lasted until 1991, and it showed the deep feelings of many Palestinians about being under Israeli control for many years.

1994: Gaza under Palestinian Authority

In May 1994, important agreements between Palestinians and Israelis called the Oslo Accords led to a change in leadership in the Gaza Strip. Many parts of Gaza began to be managed by a new group called the Palestinian Authority, with Gaza City as its main office. Israeli forces moved out of city areas, allowing the Palestinian Authority to take over safety and daily life there.

Later, in September 1995, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization signed another agreement, which helped the Palestinian Authority expand its control to more towns in another area called the West Bank. During these years, Israel also built a barrier near Gaza to help keep people safe, but this barrier was torn down when fights between groups started again in September 2000.

2000: Second Intifada

Main article: Second Intifada

The Second Intifada was a big uprising by Palestinians in the areas occupied by Israel and in Israel itself. It began after talks to make peace between Israelis and Palestinians failed in July 2000. Violence started in September 2000 when a leader from the Israeli opposition, Ariel Sharon, visited a holy place in Jerusalem. This visit did not involve any violence, but it caused protests and riots.

During this time, there were many fights and attacks from both sides. Many people, both fighters and ordinary people, were hurt or lost their lives. Both sides used different ways to fight, which led to many sad and serious events. Israel built barriers to control movement between Gaza and Israel and between Gaza and Egypt. These barriers made it very hard for people to travel freely in and out of Gaza.

2005: Israel's unilateral disengagement

Main article: Israeli disengagement from Gaza

In 2005, Israel left the Gaza Strip and took down its settlements. Israel also left the Philadelphi Route, a narrow area near the border with Egypt, after Egypt agreed to guard its side of the border following the Agreement on Movement and Access, called the Rafah Agreement. After this, the Gaza Strip was managed by the Palestinian Authority.

2006: Hamas takeover

Main article: Fatah–Hamas conflict

In January 2006, elections were held in the area called the Gaza Strip. A group named Hamas won many seats in these elections. After Hamas took control, some countries stopped giving money to help the people there because Hamas would not agree to certain rules. This caused problems and made life harder for many people, who decided to leave the Gaza Strip.

Fighting began between Hamas and another group, Fatah, in early 2007. There were many battles and sadly, many people were hurt or lost their lives during this time. The fighting made it difficult for everyone to live peacefully.

2007: Fatah–Hamas conflict

Main articles: Battle of Gaza (2007) and Fatah–Hamas conflict

After winning elections in 2006, Hamas and Fatah worked together in a shared government. But in June 2007, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip during a fight called the Battle of Gaza. They took over important buildings and replaced leaders with their own people. By June 14, Hamas fully controlled the area. In response, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas declared a state of emergency and formed a new government without Hamas. Security forces in the West Bank arrested some Hamas members.

Later, in January 2008, Hamas broke parts of the wall between Gaza and Egypt at Rafah. Many people from Gaza crossed into Egypt to get food and supplies. Egyptian troops let them in but checked to make sure they didn’t bring weapons back. This led to increased tensions and conflicts in the area.

2008–2009: Gaza War

Main article: Gaza War (2008–2009)

On 27 December 2008, Israeli F-16 fighters began air strikes in Gaza. This happened because Israel and Hamas were not following a peace agreement. Israel started sending soldiers into Gaza on 3 January 2009. They attacked many places they thought were used to store weapons, including schools and hospitals.

Israel said they did this because Hamas had been sending rockets into southern Israel. They warned people near these targets to leave before the attacks. Many buildings and homes were damaged or destroyed during the 22-day conflict. Thousands of people lost their homes, and many places like hospitals and farms were badly hurt. The people of Gaza still feel the effects of this today.

2014: Gaza War

In June 2014, two groups, Fatah and Hamas, signed an agreement to work together.

The 2014 Gaza War, also called Operation Protective Edge, began when Israel started a military operation in the Gaza Strip on July 8, 2014. This happened after three Israeli teenagers were taken and hurt by people from Hamas in the West Bank. In response, Israel arrested many Hamas members, and Hamas fired rockets into Israel. This led to a seven-week conflict with many sad and serious events, making it one of the deadliest fights between Israel and the Palestinians in many years. Both sides suffered losses during this time.

2018–2019: Great March of Return

Main article: Great March of Return

In 2018–2019, people in the Gaza Strip held protests each Friday near the border with Israel. They wanted to return to lands they came from long ago and protested against limits on moving in and out of the area. Most people showed up peacefully far from the border, but a few set fires and threw things toward the other side.

A group checked what happened and found that most of the times when people were hurt or lost their lives, it was not right. They asked the country in charge to look into whether very serious mistakes were made.

2021: Israel–Palestine crisis

Before the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, many people in Gaza struggled to find jobs, and half of the families lived with very little money. During this difficult time, many children sadly lost their lives. After the crisis, leaders from around the world came to help fix what was broken and support the people of Gaza.

Another escalation between 5 and 8 August 2022 caused damage to homes and forced some families to leave where they lived because of airstrikes.

2023–2025: Gaza war

Main articles: Gaza war, Outline of the Gaza war, October 7 attacks, Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, Proposed Israeli resettlement of the Gaza Strip, and Gaza genocide

See also: Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023–present), Gaza Strip evacuations, and Potential American ownership of the Gaza Strip

In October 2023, fighters from Gaza attacked places in nearby Israel, leading to many deaths and people being taken captive. In response, Israel began a war and cut off supplies like electricity and food to Gaza. Later, some aid was allowed in.

The war caused a lot of damage and hardship for people living in Gaza. Many were forced to leave their homes. There were many injuries and deaths, and some say that the actions taken were very harmful. The war continued through 2025 with moments of pause and then more fighting.

2025–present: Gaza peace plan and Resolution 2803

See also: Gaza Strip under Resolution 2803, Gaza peace plan, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803

In October 2025, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first steps of a Gaza peace plan. This led to a stop in fighting in the Gaza War and some Israeli forces leaving parts of the Gaza Strip. Later steps in the plan included sending an International Stabilization Force to help keep things calm. New groups like a Board of Peace and a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza were meant to help manage the area for a while, until the Palestinian Authority could take over again.