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.
The hostages, who were taken on October 7 and killed in captivity, were brought back to Israel to be laid to rest.
By insisting on Israel's presence along the corridor, Netanyahu ensures Israel's security and rolls back on decades of wishful thinking that led to Oct. 7 in the first place.
"I suggest you return the 109 hostages and in return receive only five hostages," said Ditza Or, offering to exchange the children of five top leaders in the security echelon.
According to the officials, the present deal includes clauses that fit the demands of both Israel and Hamas and as such constitutes the "strongest form" of a proposal.
An Israeli retreat from the Philadelphi Corridor is still a bone of contention between Israel and Hamas, and Chikli stressed the importance of retaining Israeli control of the corridor.
The Hamas center was located in the school named "Mustafa Khaft" within Gaza City, a compound from which Hamas planned and carried out attacks against IDF troops.
From enriching knowledge to strengthening national spirit during war, the story of Sharon Yacovi and "The Most Israeli" card game that bridges generations in Israel's challenging times.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the IDF and Shin Bet for their joint operation and affirmed Israel would continue to act to return the hostages.
The bodies of hostages Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtab, Yoram Metzger, Haim Peri, Alexander Dancyg and Avraham Munder were recovered from Gaza.
In Tel al-Sultan in Rafah, troops operated killed dozens of terrorists, found weapons and destroyed above-ground terror infrastructure.
JPOST Digital Library
