Old City of Gaza
The Old City of Gaza is the historical center of Gaza City, in the Gaza Strip. It consists of a heavily built up urban area with many historical buildings on a 10 - 30 metre high low-lying tell covering an area of about. It sits at a distance of 3.5 km from the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea between two wadis: Wadi Gaza to the south, and Wadi el Hesi to the north.
For much of recorded history it has been the southernmost coastal city in the region of Palestine, occupying a strategic position on the ancient trade route the Via Maris, between Egypt and the Levant. Throughout its history, Gaza has been ruled by various empires, including the Philistines, Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Romans, and Ottomans. Following Israeli bombardment during the ongoing Gaza–Israel conflict, the Old City has been described in 2024 as "a vast field of ruins".
History
The city's origins trace back to around 3000 BCE, when it was first established by the Canaanites. Gaza rose to prominence due to its location on the Via Maris trade route that links Africa and Asia, serving as a hub for merchants and travelers. Like the wider region, it subsequently fell under the control of the Egyptian, Assyrian, and the Persian empires. Alexander the Great captured the city in 332 BC following a siege which killed most of the inhabitants. The area changed hands regularly between two Greek successor-kingdoms, the Seleucids of Syria and the Ptolemies of Egypt, with a particularly notable battle in 312 BC, until it was besieged and taken by the Hasmoneans in 96 BC. The city was rebuilt by Roman General Pompey, and maintained its prosperity throughout the Roman period, receiving grants from several different emperors. It grew as a center for the trade of spices and perfumes during this period.The city's conversion to Christianity was spearheaded and completed under Saint Porphyrius, who destroyed its eight pagan temples between 396 and 420 AD. Gaza was conquered by the Muslim general Amr ibn al-As in 637 AD and most Gazans adopted Islam during early Muslim rule. The Crusaders wrested control of Gaza from the Fatimids in 1100, but were driven out by Saladin's forces in a battle in 1239. The city was destroyed during the Mongol raids into Palestine; it was the Mongol's southernmost point of conquest. Gaza was in Mamluk hands by the late 13th century, and became a regional capital. Under the Ottomans the city continued as the regional capital of the Gaza Sanjak, and witnessed a golden age under the Ridwan dynasty from c.1560-1690. Gaza was culturally dominated by neighboring Egypt from the early 19th century; Muhammad Ali of Egypt conquered it and most of Palestine in 1832. When World War I erupted in 1917, British forces were defeated by the Ottomans in the first and second Battle of Gaza. General Edmund Allenby, leading the Allied Forces, finally conquered Gaza in a third battle.
The city expanded outside of the area of the Old City during the twentieth century. In modern times, much of the Old City was destroyed by Israeli bombardment during the ongoing Gaza–Israel conflict. In 2026 Palestine began the process of proposing the Old City of Gaza as a World Heritage Site.
Neighborhoods
The Old City of Gaza is divided into four main quarters, some of which have subdivisions. Three of these quarters — Tuffah, Daraj, and Zaytun — were located within the walls of the ancient city, while the southeastern quarter, Shuja'iyya, developed later, mostly outside its walls:- Daraj Quarter : Located in the northwest, this is the oldest part of the city, sometimes referred to as the old city of Gaza proper. It is known for its narrow streets and traditional homes. It sits on an hill about 20 meters above the surrounding plain and other parts of the city. The name likely comes from the stairs that led up to it or the sensation of climbing stairs when approaching the area.
- Zaytun Quarter : Situated in the southwest, this quarter is named after its historical olive groves. It is the largest quarter within the old city walls. It contains the St. Porphyrius Church. The medieval Khan az-Zayt formed the historical border between the Zaytun Quarter and the Daraj Quarter; this was demolished under Djemal Pasha during the later years of Ottoman rule, and replaced with a road currently named Umar al-Mukhtär Street which now forms the boundary between the two quarters.
- Tuffah : Located in the northeast, this quarter is known as the Apple Quarter. The southern part of this quarter, called ad-Dabbäghah, was historically the tanners' neighborhood, which was situated near the Ottoman-era slaughterhouse.
- Shuja'iyya: This southeastern quarter, which developed during the Middle Ages, mostly lies outside the ancient city walls. Its location outside the walls allowed it to expand significantly, eventually surpassing the Zaytun Quarter in size. The quarter is subdivided into two parts: al-Judaydah in the northeast and at-Turkmän in the south.