Modern era Gaza City

gaza after surrender british forces, 1918

while leading allied forces during world war i, british won control of city during third battle of gaza in 1917. after war, gaza included in mandatory palestine. in 1930s , 1940s, gaza underwent major expansion. new neighborhoods built along coast , southern , eastern plains. international organizations , missionary groups funded of construction. in 1947 united nations partition plan, gaza assigned part of arab state in palestine occupied egypt following 1948 arab–israeli war. gaza s growing population augmented influx of refugees fleeing nearby cities, towns , villages captured israel. in 1957, egyptian president gamal abdel nasser made number of reforms in gaza, included expanding educational opportunities , civil services, providing housing, , establishing local security forces.

gaza occupied israel during 1967 six-day war following defeat of egyptian army. frequent conflicts have erupted between palestinians , israeli authorities in city since 1970s. tensions led first intifada in 1987. gaza center of confrontation during uprising, , economic conditions in city worsened.

palestinian control

in september 1993, leaders of israel , palestine liberation organization (plo) signed oslo accords. agreement called palestinian administration of gaza strip , west bank town of jericho, implemented in may 1994. israeli forces withdrew gaza, leaving new palestinian national authority (pna) administer , police city. pna, led yasser arafat, chose gaza first provincial headquarters. newly established palestinian national council held inaugural session in gaza in march 1996.

residents in gaza neighborhood during 2008–09 gaza war

in 2005, israel withdrew troops gaza strip , removed thousands of israelis had settled in territory. see israel s unilateral disengagement plan of 2004. since israeli withdrawal, hamas has been engaged in violent power struggle rival palestinian organization fatah. on january 25, 2006, hamas won surprise victory in elections palestinian legislative council, legislature of palestinian national authority. in 2007, hamas overthrew fatah forces in gaza strip , hamas members dismissed pna government in west bank in response. currently, hamas, recognized terror organization western countries, has de facto control of city , strip.

in march 2008, coalition of human rights groups charged israeli blockade of city had caused humanitarian situation in gaza have reached worst point since israel occupied territory in 1967 six-day war, , israeli air strikes targeting militants in densely populated areas have killed bystanders well. in 2008, israel commenced assault against gaza. israel stated strikes in response repetitive rocket , mortar attacks gaza strip israel since 2005, while palestinians stated responding israel s military incursions , blockade of gaza strip. in january 2009, @ least 1,300 palestinians killed in conflict.

in november 2012, after week of conflict between israel , palestinian militant groups, ceasefire brokered egypt announced on november 21. un ocha says 2,205 palestinians (including @ least 1,483 civilians) , 71 israelis (including 66 soldiers) , 1 foreign national in israel killed in 2014 israel–gaza conflict. according analysis new york times, men ages 20–29, militants, overrepresented in death toll.