Gaza Strip

Cultural Attributes

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Dates of Interest

• June 5th

  Marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Includes prayers, feasting, giving of zakat (charity), and festive gatherings with family and friends.

What language do people speak in the Gaza Strip?

What food will you encounter in the Gaza Strip?

How is family and social life organized in the Gaza Strip?

What cultural traditions and arts are important in the Gaza Strip?

Historical Eras

Overview

Timeline of Key Events

1. 1949

   Israel signs a series of truces with Arab countries.

   Israel signs a series of truces with Arab countries. Under the 1949 pacts, Egypt retained control of the Gaza Strip.

2. 1967

   The Six Day War

   Israel recaptures the strip during the Arab-Israeli war of June 1967, called the Six-Day War. Israel doesn’t annex or incorporate the West Bank and Gaza into Israel proper.

3. 1970

   One of the first Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip is Kfar Darom .

   One of the first Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip is Kfar Darom in 1970. In 1972, Netzarim is built up. The Israeli government continues to build settlements in the Gaza Strip during the 1970s and 1980s. The increasing Jewish presence ignites Palestinian activism and helps to motivate several militant groups. Riots become commonplace and confrontations between Israelis and Palestinians became more violent.

4. 1987

   Hamas, a radical Islamic organization operating mainly in the Gaza Strip, is formed.

   Hamas, a radical Islamic organization operating mainly in the Gaza Strip, is formed.

5. 1993

   Israel continues its plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements.

   The Oslo Accords, signed in Washington, D.C., put in place a peace process aimed at ending the rebellion and resolving the situation between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Israeli government.

6. 1993

   The Oslo Accords

   The Oslo Accords, signed in Washington, D.C., put in place a peace process aimed at ending the rebellion and resolving the situation between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Israeli government. The accords inaugurated the Palestinian National Authority and called for the handover of some land to Palestinian control.

7. 1994

   By mid-1994 Israel has withdrawn most of its troops from the Gaza Strip.

   By mid-1994 Israel has withdrawn most of its troops from the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority assumes administrative control of the region

Religion

Languages Spoken

• Arabic
• Hebrew

Population

Population

2,098,325

Nationality Noun

NA

Ethnic Groups

Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%

Health Information

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in the Gaza Strip reflects the complex humanitarian and public health conditions that have shaped the territory over decades. Prior to the significant escalation of conflict beginning in late 2023, overall life expectancy in Gaza stood at approximately 74 to 75 years, with women living slightly longer than men — around 76 to 77 years for females compared to roughly 72 to 73 years for males. These figures placed Gaza broadly in line with lower-middle-income territories globally, a notable achievement given the severe economic constraints and longstanding restrictions on movement affecting the population. Gaza's life expectancy gains over the latter half of the 20th century were driven largely by improvements in maternal and child health services, expanded vaccination programs, and the growth of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) healthcare facilities serving the Palestinian refugee population. Infant mortality rates declined substantially during this period, contributing meaningfully to rising average life expectancy figures. The structural conditions in Gaza, however, present persistent threats to long-term health outcomes. The territory faces chronic shortages of clean water, with a severely depleted coastal aquifer rendering the vast majority of groundwater unfit for human consumption without treatment. Rates of waterborne illness, malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease have all been documented at elevated levels. The blockade imposed since 2007 has restricted the import of medical equipment, medications, and supplies, placing enormous strain on an already underfunded health system. The armed conflict that intensified dramatically beginning in October 2023 has further devastated Gaza's health infrastructure. Hospitals have been damaged or rendered non-operational, and mass casualties have been recorded across the civilian population. The World Health Organization and other humanitarian bodies have documented the near-collapse of the territory's healthcare system, with the compounding effects of mass displacement, acute food insecurity, the breakdown of sanitation infrastructure, and severely restricted access to medical care creating conditions that public health experts warn will suppress life expectancy significantly in the coming years. These developments risk reversing decades of hard-won health gains and may place Gaza among the most acute humanitarian health crises recorded in recent history.

Infant Mortality Rate

The infant mortality rate in the Gaza Strip has long reflected the difficult humanitarian conditions present in the territory. In recent years, the rate has hovered around 15 to 17 deaths per 1,000 live births, a figure that, while lower than many conflict-affected regions globally, represents a significant burden given the territory's constrained healthcare infrastructure and recurring periods of intense conflict. Infant mortality in Gaza is shaped by a complex interplay of factors. Overcrowding, limited access to clean water, inadequate sanitation, and a healthcare system operating well below capacity have all contributed to elevated risks for newborns and infants. The territory's hospitals and clinics regularly face shortages of essential medicines, medical equipment, and trained personnel, making it difficult to address complications during and after childbirth. Neonatal conditions — those affecting infants in the first 28 days of life — account for a substantial portion of infant deaths. Premature birth complications, infections, and birth asphyxia are among the leading causes. Malnutrition among pregnant mothers also affects birth outcomes, increasing the likelihood of low birth weight, which is itself a major risk factor for infant death. UNICEF and the World Health Organization have repeatedly flagged the deteriorating state of maternal and child health services in Gaza, particularly during and following periods of armed conflict. Damage to health facilities, displacement of families, and disruption of supply chains for medical goods directly impact the survival rates of the most vulnerable newborns. It is important to note that reliable and current data from Gaza can be difficult to verify due to ongoing instability. Estimates from international health bodies suggest that conditions since late 2023, marked by large-scale military operations and a severe humanitarian crisis, have placed significant additional stress on infant and child survival rates. Future assessments are expected to reflect a worsening of conditions compared to pre-conflict baseline figures.

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in the Gaza Strip reflects the complex humanitarian and public health conditions that have shaped the territory over decades. Prior to the significant escalation of conflict beginning in late 2023, overall life expectancy in Gaza stood at approximately 74 to 75 years, with women living slightly longer than men — around 76 to 77 years for females compared to roughly 72 to 73 years for males. These figures placed Gaza broadly in line with lower-middle-income territories globally, a notable achievement given the severe economic constraints and longstanding restrictions on movement affecting the population. Gaza's life expectancy gains over the latter half of the 20th century were driven largely by improvements in maternal and child health services, expanded vaccination programs, and the growth of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) healthcare facilities serving the Palestinian refugee population. Infant mortality rates declined substantially during this period, contributing meaningfully to rising average life expectancy figures. The structural conditions in Gaza, however, present persistent threats to long-term health outcomes. The territory faces chronic shortages of clean water, with a severely depleted coastal aquifer rendering the vast majority of groundwater unfit for human consumption without treatment. Rates of waterborne illness, malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease have all been documented at elevated levels. The blockade imposed since 2007 has restricted the import of medical equipment, medications, and supplies, placing enormous strain on an already underfunded health system. The armed conflict that intensified dramatically beginning in October 2023 has further devastated Gaza's health infrastructure. Hospitals have been damaged or rendered non-operational, and mass casualties have been recorded across the civilian population. The World Health Organization and other humanitarian bodies have documented the near-collapse of the territory's healthcare system, with the compounding effects of mass displacement, acute food insecurity, the breakdown of sanitation infrastructure, and severely restricted access to medical care creating conditions that public health experts warn will suppress life expectancy significantly in the coming years. These developments risk reversing decades of hard-won health gains and may place Gaza among the most acute humanitarian health crises recorded in recent history.

Infant Mortality Rate

The infant mortality rate in the Gaza Strip has long reflected the difficult humanitarian conditions present in the territory. In recent years, the rate has hovered around 15 to 17 deaths per 1,000 live births, a figure that, while lower than many conflict-affected regions globally, represents a significant burden given the territory's constrained healthcare infrastructure and recurring periods of intense conflict. Infant mortality in Gaza is shaped by a complex interplay of factors. Overcrowding, limited access to clean water, inadequate sanitation, and a healthcare system operating well below capacity have all contributed to elevated risks for newborns and infants. The territory's hospitals and clinics regularly face shortages of essential medicines, medical equipment, and trained personnel, making it difficult to address complications during and after childbirth. Neonatal conditions — those affecting infants in the first 28 days of life — account for a substantial portion of infant deaths. Premature birth complications, infections, and birth asphyxia are among the leading causes. Malnutrition among pregnant mothers also affects birth outcomes, increasing the likelihood of low birth weight, which is itself a major risk factor for infant death. UNICEF and the World Health Organization have repeatedly flagged the deteriorating state of maternal and child health services in Gaza, particularly during and following periods of armed conflict. Damage to health facilities, displacement of families, and disruption of supply chains for medical goods directly impact the survival rates of the most vulnerable newborns. It is important to note that reliable and current data from Gaza can be difficult to verify due to ongoing instability. Estimates from international health bodies suggest that conditions since late 2023, marked by large-scale military operations and a severe humanitarian crisis, have placed significant additional stress on infant and child survival rates. Future assessments are expected to reflect a worsening of conditions compared to pre-conflict baseline figures.

Country Identity

Country Name

GazaStrip

Government Structure

Executive Branch

The executive structure of the Gaza Strip is complex and contested, reflecting the territory's unique and disputed political status. Since June 2007, Hamas — the Islamic Resistance Movement — has exercised de facto administrative control over the Gaza Strip following its violent takeover from the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority (PA). This division created a political split between Gaza, governed by Hamas, and the West Bank, administered by the PA under President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas does not operate under a conventional executive branch structure recognized by most of the international community. Instead, it maintains governance through a political bureau and a separate administrative apparatus. The Political Bureau of Hamas has historically been based outside Gaza, with senior figures operating from Qatar and other regional states. Ismail Haniyeh served as the head of Hamas's political bureau for several years before his assassination in July 2024 in Tehran. Yahya Sinwar, the organization's military commander and chief architect of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, had been widely considered the most powerful figure inside Gaza. Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces in October 2024. The Palestinian Authority, under President Mahmoud Abbas, maintains internationally recognized executive authority over Palestinian territories in a broader legal sense, though it has had no effective governing presence in Gaza since 2007. Abbas, who has served as PA President since 2005, heads the executive branch of the Palestinian Authority from Ramallah in the West Bank. Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Hamas's governing infrastructure in Gaza was severely degraded. The conflict resulted in the destruction of significant portions of the administrative apparatus Hamas had built over nearly two decades. As of 2025, the question of who will ultimately govern the Gaza Strip remains unresolved, with ongoing international discussions involving the Palestinian Authority, Arab states, and various international stakeholders about potential post-conflict governance arrangements. No internationally recognized executive structure with clear leadership has been established for the territory in the immediate aftermath of the conflict.

Legislative Branch

The Gaza Strip does not have a fully functioning independent legislative body in the conventional sense, given its complex and contested political status. The territory is not a sovereign state, and its governance arrangements have been shaped by decades of conflict, occupation, and internal Palestinian political divisions. The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), established under the Oslo Accords and first elected in 1996, was designed to serve as the legislative branch for the Palestinian Authority (PA) across both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The PLC is a unicameral body composed of 132 seats, with members elected through a mixed proportional and district-based system. However, the council has been effectively non-functional for many years. Following the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, in which Hamas won a majority of seats, a political rupture between Hamas and the rival Fatah movement led to Hamas seizing full control of Gaza in 2007. This effectively split Palestinian governance into two separate administrations — the PA-led West Bank and Hamas-controlled Gaza. Since that division, Hamas has governed Gaza through its own administrative structures, including a separate legislature it established called the Legislative Council of the Gaza Strip, sometimes referred to as the Hamas-aligned PLC. This body operates independently of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority and is not internationally recognized as a legitimate legislative institution by most Western governments or international organizations. Palestinian legislative elections were called for May 2021 but were indefinitely postponed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, with no rescheduled date confirmed as of the time of writing. The ongoing conflict following the Hamas-led attacks in October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza has further disrupted any prospects for near-term legislative or electoral normalization. As a result, the Gaza Strip currently lacks a broadly recognized, democratically functioning legislative branch, and its governance remains a deeply unresolved issue tied to the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the internal Palestinian political divide.

Military

Branches: HAMAS maintains security forces inside Gaza in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing ostensibly reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau but operates with considerable autonomy; there are several other militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority.

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code

ILS

GDP Real Growth Rate

-35%