Who Has Control of Gaza?
Last week we began to look closely at the history of the area of the Mediterranean known as the Gaza Strip. The 140-square-mile stretch of land along the coast between Egypt and Israel has endured decades of protest, military maneuvers, and violence as both Israel and the Palestinian Authority have asserted the right to have control of Gaza. It is separated by Israeli territory from Jerusalem, the city that holds deep religious and cultural significance for both the Jews and the Arabs. Both Israel and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital city.
Last week we identified the area and traced a bit of its history from the establishment of the state of Israel following World War II. But the conflict actually goes back even further.
Prior to World War II
Gaza was culturally dominated by neighboring Egypt during the years of the 19th century. Muhammad Ali of Egypt conquered it and most of Palestine in 1832. At the time, Gaza was economically driven by its cotton production. American historian Edward Robinson visited Gaza in 1838 and noted that all of its vestiges of antiquity had vanished because of the constant conflict in the area.
When World War I exploded in 1917, British forces were defeated by the Ottomans who had controlled the area since 1840. The Allied Forced finally conquered Gaza in a third battle for the region. After the War, the League of Nations granted authority to France and Britain over the Ottoman territories. Gaza became a part of the British Mandate of Palestine.
Muslim Control of Gaza
The Greek-speaking population of Gaza became one of the earliest areas to convert to Islam. Muhammad visited the city more than once as he assumed the role of the prophet of Islam. Gaza was believed to be the site where Muhammad’s great-grandfather was buried. The arrival of Muslim Arabs brought drastic changes to Christian Gaza. Its churches were transformed into mosques. Cities converted to Islam fairly quickly compared to the countryside. Arabic became the official language of the area. Eventually, the Christian population was reduced to an insignificant minority.
Gaza became a significant trade center for merchants moving their products from the East to Rome and beyond. The Crusaders often used the area as a battleground. Off and on, the Crusaders would wrestle control of Gaza from the Arabs.
The Jewish population of the area – even those who had identified as Samaritans – had abandoned the area as early as 750.
New Testament Times, Christian Influence, and Control of Gaza
The book of Acts mentions Gaza as being on the desert route from Jerusalem to Ethiopia. It was along this route that passages from Isaiah were explained to an Ethiopian eunuch by Philip the Evangelist (Acts 8:26-40). He was baptized in some nearby water. Tradition states that Philip stayed in the area long enough to make some converts to the gospel.
Throughout the Roman period, Gaza was a prosperous city because of its trade location. Several emperors visited the region and offered funding for projects and expansion. During his visit in 130, Emperor Hadrian personally inaugurated a new stadium and introduced wrestling, boxing, and oratorical competitions.
Herod, Augustus, and Alexander
Gaza was granted to Herod the Great by Augustus in 30 BC. After Herod’s death, the area became a part of province of Syria. In 66, Gaza was burned down by the Jews during their rebellion against the Romans. Titus passed through Gaza on his march toward Jerusalem and again on his return. The destruction of Jerusalem was so thorough, Gaza became the area’s only significant city. Following the fall, Jewish captives were sold into slavery in Gaza.
Gaza was the last city to resist Alexander the Great on his march to Egypt. It took him five months to finally conquer the city in 332 BC. Alexander was impressed with the strength of its people and organized Gaza into a polis and developed a center for Greek culture and learning. Statues of Zeus and other Greek gods have been excavated in Gaza.
Whose land is this, anyway? Next week, we will conclude our examination of the history of the Gaza Strip and consider some implications of its constant struggle.
