Zeitoun, Gaza

Zeitoun
الزيتون
Neighborhood
Zaitoun
Zeitoun

Location in Gaza Strip

Coordinates: 31°29′28.28″N 34°26′38.8″E / 31.4911889°N 34.444111°E
Country Gaza Strip
Governorate Gaza Governorate
City Gaza
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) +3 (UTC)

Zeitoun (Arabic: الزيتون; lit. olives‎) is a district of Gaza, located in the southern part of the city.

History

It was built in the 1930s and 1940s as Gaza developed outside its center. Much of the funding for the initial construction is attributed to foreign institutions, such as missionary hospitals.[1] After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, with the influx of Palestinian refugees, Zeitoun's population swelled. Ahmed Yassin's family settled the district in the 1950s.[2]

During the 2008-2009 Israel-Gaza conflict, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ground incursion in the area, occupying the district. During this period, 48 Palestinians, mostly from three families, were killed. In addition, 27 homes, a number of farms, and a mosque were destroyed.

References

  1. ↑ Dumper, Abu-Lughod, and Stanley, 2007, p.156.
  2. ↑ Milton-Edwards, 1999, p.98.

Bibliography

  • Dumper, Michael; Stanley, Bruce E.; Abu-Lughod, Janet L. (2007), Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia, ABC-CLIO, ISBN 978-1-57607-919-5
  • Milton-Edwards, Beverley (1999), Islamic Politics in Palestine, I.B.Tauris, ISBN 978-1-86064-475-7

Coordinates: 31°29′45.6″N 34°27′23.26″E / 31.496000°N 34.4564611°E