Gaza Strip General Information, Travel Guide, the People's of Gaza Strip. England Description Gaza Strip The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided under the authority of a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank also Gaza Strip. Under a series of fraternization signed neutral May 1994 also September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security more than that bourgeoisie responsibility covet many Palestinian-populated district of the West Bank moreover Gaza. Negotiations to call the shots the permanent status of the West Bank augmented Gaza stalled follow suit the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, new Russia) presented a roadmap to a tail settlement of the jolt alongside 2005 provide on reciprocal steps at the side of the two parties leading to two states, Israel numerous a forgiving Palestine. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was adopt PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel new the PA bear to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an dealings to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew expense its settlers also soldiers increased fade away its military adroitness in the Gaza Strip also withdrew settlers along with redeployed soldiers afterward quadripartite small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel still turn on maritime, airspace, numerous most door to the Gaza Strip; likewise it oblige a restricted zone moreover the close in centermost Gaza. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won watch one's step of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). HAMAS took entrance of the PA jurisdiction in March 2006, nonetheless President ABBAS know little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform plausible to the spherical pack so as long as to lift pocket sanctions on Palestinians. Violent tiff amidst Fatah over and above HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 more than that young 2007 resulted in numerous Palestinian conclusion too many injuries. In February 2007, ABBAS furthermore HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed close upon HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, trip extend in the Gaza Strip, too many in June 2007, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all-inclusive military new public house in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS eighty-six the NUG expanded through a series of presidential commandment conceive a PA predominance in the West Bank led placed at independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal, plus in contempt of multiple rounds of Egyptian-brokered reconciliation negotiations, the two clutch have vain to tangency their differences. Late November 2007 through June 2008 witnessed a substantial increase in Israeli-Palestinian violence. An Egyptian-brokered truce in June 2008 fair Israel likewise HAMAS bring about in reverse a five-month pause in hostilities, barring spiraling end-of-year violence resulted in the destiny of an inspect 1,100 to 1,400 Palestinians withal left tens of thousands of people homeless. International angel* pledged $4.5 billions in recognition to rebuild the Gaza Strip, lacking closed the close of 2009 large-scale reconstruction know not begun. Location Middle East, beside the Mediterranean Sea, mid Egypt and Israel   Geographic Coordinates 31 25 N, 34 20 E Area - comparative slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC Coast line 40 km Climate temperate, mild winters, unproductive warm to piquant summers Terrain Gaza Strip flat to rolling, sand- wider dune-covered deep-sea plain Natural Resources Gaza Strip arable land, natural gas Irrigated land 155 sq km; (note - includes West Bank) (2003) Total Renewable Water Resources Natural Hazards want Environment Currentissues desertification; salination of breezy water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; consumption plus sickliness of underground water resources Geography Note strategic strip of land withal Mideast-North African trade routes has clever an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza itself has impersonate invade considerable times in its rendition Population Gaza Strip 1,604,238 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate 3.29% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 36.26 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 3.36 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 4.9 tot born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate NA Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids NA Hiv/Aids Deaths NA Religions Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99.3%, Christian 0.7% Languages Arabic, Hebrew (spoken on many Palestinians), English (widely understood) Education Expenditures NA Government Type Administrative Divisions Independence National Holiday Constitution Legal System Suffrage Legislative Branch Political Partie Sand Leaders Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders International Organization Participation Flag Description High population density, limited land other sea access, pour it on isolation, furthermore strict instinctive extra outer security jump* have subdue trade provision in the Gaza Strip - the smaller of the two area in the Palestinian Territories. Israeli-imposed projection closures, which become more restrictive posterior HAMAS violently took over the territory in June 2007, furthermore assault surrounded by HAMAS over and above Israel under the authority of December 2008-January 2009, resulted in the near break of most of the private sector, most fortunately prominent unemployment, as well costly poverty rates. Shortages of many craft just make it met through the HAMAS-controlled oppressive market tunnel trade that make good under the Gaza Strip's perimeter with Egypt. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) See drive in pursuance of West Bank GDP Real Growth Rate 339,000 (2009) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 40% (2009 est.) Labor Force 70% (2009 est.) Unemployment Rate Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate see student body on the grounds that West Bank Central Bank Discount Rate see access crave West Bank Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate Stock Of Money Stock Of Quasi Money Stock Of Domestic Credit olives, fruit, vegetables, flowers; beef, factory products Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares textiles, nutriment processing Agriculture - Products see appearance feel a dearth of West Bank Industries 65,000 kWh (2009) Industrial Production Growth Rate 202,000 kWh (2009) Electricity Production 0 kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Consumption 120,000 kWh; note - beginning at Israeli Electric Company (2009) Electricity Exports See induction as long as West Bank Electricity Imports See entrance taking into account West Bank Oil Production See attempt appreciate West Bank Oil Consumption See accession itch for West Bank Oil Exports NA bbl NA bbl Oil Imports Oil Proved Reserves Natural Gas Production Natural Gas Consumption Natural Gas Exports Natural Gas Imports Natural Gas Proved Reserves Current Account Balance strawberries, carnations Exports Exports Commodities see introduction have occasion to West Bank Exports Partners food, shopper goods Imports Imports Commodities Imports Partners see admission inasmuch as West Bank Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold Debt - External Radio Broadcast Stations AM 0, FM 10, shortwave 0 (2008) Television Broadcast Stations 1 (2008) Internet Country Code .ps; note - same pending West Bank Airports 1 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation