Gaza Attractions
Gaza Strip
The Arab town of Gaza, lying near the Mediterranean coast some 80km/50mi south of Tel Aviv, is the primary center of the Gaza Strip, a stretch of territory 40km/25mi long and up to 10km/6mi across. It was occupied by Israel following the the Six Day War but since 1997 the area became part of the Palestinian territory and in 2007 Hamas took control of the area.
In the Gaza Strip much of the population live in refugee camps in appalling conditions. In the busy and noisy town of Gaza the most interesting building is the Great Mosque, originally a 13th century Crusader church. Near the harbor are remains of a fifth century synagogue, with a mosaic pavement in the nave depicting King David as Orpheus, surrounded by wild beasts.
History
During the war of 1948-49 the Arab population of southern Palestine fled into the area round Gaza, which was then occupied by Egyptian forces. After the ceasefire of February 1949 this region was assigned to Egypt. In the Suez War (1956-57) Israel sought to gain control of the Gaza Strip, but in 1957 returned it to Egypt. In 1967 (the Six Day War) Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and put it under military administration. In the context of the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreements of 1979 the possibility of granting self-government to the Gaza Strip was considered but did not find favor with the local government authorities, and in 1982 the negotiations on self-government collapsed.
Since 2007 this area has been marked by ongoing violence and conflict.
The Arab town of Gaza, lying near the Mediterranean coast some 80km/50mi south of Tel Aviv, is the primary center of the Gaza Strip, a stretch of territory 40km/25mi long and up to 10km/6mi across. It was occupied by Israel following the the Six Day War but since 1997 the area became part of the Palestinian territory and in 2007 Hamas took control of the area.
In the Gaza Strip much of the population live in refugee camps in appalling conditions. In the busy and noisy town of Gaza the most interesting building is the Great Mosque, originally a 13th century Crusader church. Near the harbor are remains of a fifth century synagogue, with a mosaic pavement in the nave depicting King David as Orpheus, surrounded by wild beasts.
History
During the war of 1948-49 the Arab population of southern Palestine fled into the area round Gaza, which was then occupied by Egyptian forces. After the ceasefire of February 1949 this region was assigned to Egypt. In the Suez War (1956-57) Israel sought to gain control of the Gaza Strip, but in 1957 returned it to Egypt. In 1967 (the Six Day War) Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and put it under military administration. In the context of the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreements of 1979 the possibility of granting self-government to the Gaza Strip was considered but did not find favor with the local government authorities, and in 1982 the negotiations on self-government collapsed.
Since 2007 this area has been marked by ongoing violence and conflict.
Tel el-Ajjul
7km/4.5mi southwest of Gaza is Tel el-Ajjul, which has yielded evidence of a history going back 4,000 years. Excavations in 1929-31 brought to light the remains of fortifications and tombs dating from around 1750 B.C.
