Gaza
The Gaza Strip, often referred to simply as Gaza, is a small coastal territory in the Southern Levant that is north of Egypt's Sinai, East of the Mediterranean Sea, and South-West of Israel.
The long-standing ruler of the Gaza Strip is Hamas, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by most Western states and international governmental organizations. Under Hamas, Gaza has been in a state of conflict with Israel. Several other terrorist organizations reside in Gaza and take part in the hostilities, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, ISIS offshoots and others.
Gaza is home to 1.5 million Palestinians, largely Sunni Muslim, some who identify as refugees or descendants of refugees from territory now belonging to Israel. Gaza has a very young population, but is very impoverished due to mismanagement, corruption, conflict, and the redirection of taxes and financial aid to warfare.
Due to the conflict between Gaza and Israel, the territory has been under blockade since 2007, though it shares one border and crossing, Rafah, with Egypt. A significant amount of smuggling occurs on this border, often through tunnels.
Gaza is surrounded by defensive structures created by the Israel Defense Forces to counter Gazan terrorist attacks. This includes a sensor fence that rings the perimeter, an underground barrier to prevent and detect tunneling, and a naval barrier to prevent naval frogman infiltration.
Rockets fired from Gaza have presented a major strategic challenge to Israel. Military infrastructure runs through Gaza's cities, including rocket infrastructure. Launch sites, munitions storage, command & control centers, bunkers and more can be found throughout Gaza, much of it underground. In the past, Hamas leaders have claimed that 500 kilometers of tunnel systems are laced throughout the Strip.
Gaza was part of the British Mandate after the territory was relinquished by the UK from the Ottoman Empire after World War I. After the Mandate dissolved, it was seized during Israel's War of Independence by Egypt, and ruled by the Egyptian puppet All-Palestine Government. During the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured the territory, and it was not returned along with other Egyptian holdings after the two made peace in the 1970s. 21 Israeli settlements were established within Gaza, but in 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Strip. In 2006, the Palestinians held legislative elections, but when Hamas won, there was a civil war, and Hamas seized full control of Gaza.
From the disengagement onwards, Hamas and other terrorist organizations increased terrorist attacks against Israelis, and several operations have been fought to quell Gazan attacks, including 2008's Cast Lead, 2011's Pillar of Defense, 2014's Protective Edge, and 2021's Guardian of the Walls.
IDF resumes air drops of humanitarian aid into Gaza
The Israeli military also confirmed that plans were underway to create new humanitarian corridors to ensure UN convoys could transport aid to Palestinian civilians.
Humanitarian city in Gaza is a moral, strategic imperative - opinion
Anon. Israeli military officials deny Hamas routinely steals aid - NYT
Israel’s battle for public opinion: Morality vs military might - opinion
COGAT says hundreds of trucks awaiting pick up on Gazan side by UN, aid orgs.
UN's World Food Program claimed that 90,000 people are suffering from malnutrition, and nine people have died from it within the past week.
Yasser Abu Shabab claims Gaza militia captured territory from Hamas now untouched by war - WSJ
Yasser Abu Shabab said Hamas should trade the remaining hostages as a way to safely leave Gaza to Qatar as they weren't wanted in the Palestinian enclave.
USAID, Reuters dismiss mountain of evidence showing Hamas steals humanitarian aid - analysis
The study's acknowledgment of severe limitations, combined with extensive documentation of Hamas aid diversion from multiple sources, raises serious questions about the reliability of its findings.
Israel faces double standard, pressures, from Western hypocrisy 'uber alles' - opinion
KNOW COMMENT: Callousness and double standards are the reasons why Israelis increasingly dismiss Western pressures.
Tamra resident indicted for transferring NIS 1.5 m. to PIJ under the guise of Gaza aid donations
A Tamra resident has been indicted for transferring over NIS 1.5 million to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, disguised as donations for Gaza's children.
IDF to allow foreign countries to drop aid in Gaza Strip
Additionally, the World Central Kitchen organization has begun operating its kitchens inside Gaza again.
IDF admits food security in Gaza is on the edge, says Hamas is using it to influence ceasefire deal
Hamas is reportedly campaigning on the issue of food insecurity to try to get rid of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as part of the hostage negotiations.
UK backs future Palestinian statehood but says ceasefire top priority
Successive British governments have said they would formally recognize a Palestinian state at the right time, without ever setting a timetable or specifying the conditions for it to happen.
Hamas gambles with Gaza’s future, leaving Israel with the blame
NATIONAL AFFAIRS: How international condemnation of Israel gives Hamas hope and a reason to keep dragging its feet.
Internal USAID analysis claims no evidence of massive Hamas theft of Gaza aid
The study also noted that, because Palestinians who receive aid cannot be vetted, it was possible that US-funded supplies went to administrative officials of Hamas.
Australian PM Albanese pushes for two-state solution to 'safeguard innocent life'
"Israel’s denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food cannot be defended or ignored," Albanese said.
