Even before the latest war between Israel and Hamas, Gaza had the highest unemployment rate. Many people live below the poverty line and depend on food aid to survive.
When the Middle East War was occupied by Egypt in 1948, Gaza’s border was drawn due to the Middle East War of 1948.
Egypt was expelled from Gaza in the 1967 war, the strip was occupied by Israel, and Israel established settlements and placed the Palestinian population in Gaza under military rule.
In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza, although it retained control over its shared borders, airspace and coastline, thus effectively controlling the movement of people and cargo.
Due to Israel’s level of control, the United Nations still regards Gaza as an Israeli-occupied territory.
Hamas won the Palestinian election in 2006 and popped up rivals from the territory after a fierce battle the following year.
Israel and Egypt imposed blockades on the blockade, and Israel controlled most of the things that were allowed to enter the territory.
In the following years, Hamas and Israel fought several major conflicts – including those in 2008-09, 2012 and 2014. In May 2021, a major conflict between the two sides ended in a ceasefire after 11 days.
Each round of battle was killed on both sides, the vast majority of which were Palestinians from Gaza.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas fighters launched an attack in Gaza, killing 1,200 people in Israel and hijacking more than 250 hostages.
