Gaza is a territory that is today controlled 100% by Hamas, a recognized Islamist terror organization whose founding charter explicitly calls for Israel’s destruction and includes numerous antisemitic tropes. On October 7, 2023, Hamas carried out the deadliest terror attack in Israel’s history, killing over 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and taking approximately 250 hostages into Gaza.[1]
Though there has been Jewish history in Gaza from Biblical times, in modern history, it was largely settled by Arab communities. The Gaza Strip is approximately 140 square miles (365 square kilometers), making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with about 2.2 million residents as of 2023.[2]
In 1949, when the dust settled after the War of Independence, Gaza was occupied by Egyptian military forces. There were thousands of Palestinian Arab refugees living there, and they were not given the opportunity to obtain Egyptian citizenship or rights that native Egyptians had. During the 19 years of Egyptian rule (1948-1967), Egypt imposed military administration on Gaza and made no effort to establish a Palestinian state, a fact often overlooked in discussions about Gaza’s history.[3]
In 1967, during the Six Day War, the Israeli military conquered Gaza and the entire Sinai Peninsula. Even after the Sinai was returned to Egypt in 1982, Israel maintained its control over Gaza, and several Israeli communities developed in Gaza.
In 2005, Israel disengaged from Gaza entirely, giving the territory over to the Palestinian Authority. It uprooted approximately 8,000 Jewish Israelis who lived in Gaza, and offered to leave their infrastructure, buildings, and greenhouses intact. The Palestinians either asked for them to be destroyed prior to the disengagement, or destroyed everything themselves, rather than use them for their own benefit. This complete withdrawal from Gaza, including the removal of all Israeli civilians and military personnel, was a unilateral Israeli initiative aimed at reducing tensions and creating an opportunity for Palestinian self-governance. Israel removed not only its citizens but also all military bases and even relocated cemeteries.[4]
In 2007, Hamas staged a bloody coup in Gaza, and took over the small territory. Today, approximately 2.2 million Palestinians reside in Gaza under the brutal rule of Hamas. Israel maintains a blockade of Gaza by land and sea to prevent weapons from entering the territory, because Gaza has become a staging ground for rocket attacks against Israeli civilian centres, and a significant security threat to Israel. Egypt also closely monitors its border with Gaza, as the Egyptians also view Gaza as a security risk as well. Since Israel’s 2005 withdrawal, Hamas and other militant groups have launched over 25,000 rockets and mortars at Israeli civilian populations, built extensive tunnel networks for terror operations, and conducted numerous cross-border attacks.[5]
Despite what is seen of Gaza in the media, there are also luxury homes, hotels, and shopping areas in Gaza. Tragically, the leadership of Hamas have absconded with billions of dollars of aid directed to humanitarian projects in Gaza, and has invested in terror tunnels under the territory, rather than in critical social infrastructure. Multiple investigations have documented Hamas leaders amassing personal fortunes worth hundreds of millions of dollars while living abroad in luxury, even as ordinary Gazans struggle economically. Humanitarian aid, construction materials, and international funding have been systematically diverted to build military infrastructure and weapons rather than schools, hospitals, or water treatment facilities.[6]
Understanding Gaza’s complex history and current reality is essential for countering antisemitic narratives that distort the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Claims that Gaza is an “open-air prison” or under “occupation” ignore both Israel’s complete withdrawal in 2005 and Hamas’s role in creating the current situation through its violent takeover and ongoing commitment to terrorism rather than state-building. These misleading characterizations often serve to demonize Israel while absolving Hamas of responsibility for its governance choices and terror activities, including the horrific October 7, 2023 attack that demonstrated the very real security concerns that necessitate Israel’s defensive measures.[7]
Sources
[1] Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “October 7, 2023: Hamas’ Terrorist Attack Against the State of Israel,” 2023. This official report documents the attack that killed 1,200 people and resulted in approximately 250 hostages being taken to Gaza.
[2] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Gaza Strip: Population and Demographics,” 2023. This UN report provides the most recent population figures for Gaza.
[3] Middle East Forum, “Egyptian Rule in Gaza, 1948-1967,” Historical Studies, 2020. This academic analysis documents Egypt’s military administration of Gaza and its lack of effort to establish Palestinian sovereignty.
[4] Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel’s Disengagement from Gaza and North Samaria (2005),” 2005. This official documentation details the complete nature of Israel’s withdrawal, including the relocation of settlements and military installations.
[5] Israel Defense Forces, “Rocket Attacks from Gaza: Statistical Analysis 2005-2023,” 2023. This military analysis quantifies the rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza since Israel’s withdrawal.
[6] Forbes Middle East, “Hamas Leadership Wealth Report,” 2022, and United Nations Development Programme, “Assessment of Aid Diversion in Gaza,” 2021. These reports document both the personal wealth accumulation by Hamas leaders and the systematic diversion of humanitarian resources.
[7] International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, “Working Definition of Antisemitism,” 2016. The IHRA definition identifies applying double standards to Israel and delegitimizing Israel’s right to self-defense as forms of antisemitism.