Gaza Strip

Gaza Strip, narrow piece of land in the former southwestern Palestine, about 26 mi (42 km) long, 4–6 mi (6.4–8 km) wide. After the Arab-Israeli war of 1948, it was granted to Egypt, and many Arab refugees fled there. Israel occupied the area as a result of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Although the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty (1979) provided for negotiations on self-rule in Gaza, the area has continued to be a subject of acrimonious disagreement, with violence occurring between protesting Palestinian Arabs and Israeli troops. After 15 years the Palestinians finally gained limited autonomy in 1994.