imported>Onel5969: Disambiguating links to Gaza Freedom Flotilla (link changed to 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla) using DisamAssist.

2025-06-20T10:35:02Z

Disambiguating links to Gaza Freedom Flotilla (link changed to 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla) using DisamAssist.

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{{Short description|Port in Gaza, Palestine}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox port
| name = Port of Gaza
| image = GazaPort.JPG
| image_size = 250px
| image_caption = Gaza port, 2015
| country = [[State of Palestine]]
| location = [[Gaza Governorate]], [[Gaza Strip]]
| pushpin_map = Palestine Gaza
| pushpin_map_zoom = 13
| coordinates = {{coord|31|31|33|N|34|25|50|E}}
| locode = PSGZA<ref name="Locode-1">{{cite web |title=UNLOCODE (PS) - PALESTINE, STATE OF |url=https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/ps.htm |website=service.unece.org |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref>
| grid_position = 096/104 [[Palestine grid|PAL]]
| opened =
| operated = [[Palestinian National Authority]]
| owner =
| type =
| sizewater =
| sizeland = {{convert|48,000|m2|abbr=on}}
| size =
| berths =
| wharfs =
| piers = {{convert|970|and|330|m|abbr=on}}
| employees =
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}}
The '''Port of Gaza''' is a small port near the [[Rimal]] district of [[Gaza City]], [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]].<ref>Doughty and El Aydi, 1995, p. 13</ref> It is the home port of Palestinian fishing-boats and the base of the [[Palestinian Naval Police]], a branch of the [[Palestinian National Security Forces]]. Under the [[Oslo II Accord]], the activities of the Palestinian Naval Police are restricted to 6 nautical miles from the coast.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Karsh|first1=Efraim|title=Israel: the First Hundred Years: Volume II: From War to Peace?|date=2013|page=216}}</ref> Since 2007, the Port of Gaza has been under an Israeli-imposed [[Blockade of the Gaza Strip#Naval blockade|naval blockade]] as part of a [[blockade of the Gaza Strip]], and activities at the port have been restricted to small-scale fishing.

[[File:Gaza Strip Access Restrictions.pdf|thumb|The nautical access restrictions imposed during Israel's siege of Gaza confine the port to limited uses.]]

== History ==

=== Gaza Strip ===
The Gaza Strip has been put under a strict blockade, by land, air, and sea.<ref name="Sarraj2018">{{Cite journal|last=Sarraj|first=Yahya R.|date=2018-11-14|title=Hourly and Daily Traffic Expansion Factors on Selected Roads in Gaza, Palestine|journal=The Open Civil Engineering Journal|volume=12|issue=1|pages=355–367|doi=10.2174/1874149501812010355|issn=1874-1495|doi-access=free}}</ref> Having total surface area of 362 square kilometers,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Zavadjil|first=Milan|url=https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/IMF071/05575-9781557756381/05575-9781557756381/05575-9781557756381.xml?redirect=true|title=Recent Economic Developments, Prospects, and Progress in Institution Building in the West Bank and Gaza Strip|date=1997-02-28|publisher=INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND|isbn=978-1-55775-638-1|language=en-US|doi=10.5089/9781557756381.071}}</ref> the transportation system in the strip is in poor condition with only {{convert|76|km|mi}} of main roads, {{convert|122|km|mi}} of regional roads, and {{convert|99|km|mi}} of local roads.<ref name="Sarraj2018" /> Formerly the Gaza strip had a small airport located at Rafah, but the airport was destroyed in 2001 by Israel.<ref name="Sarraj2018" /> The port was built by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).<ref name="Sarraj2018" />

===Maiuma===
{{Main|Maiuma (city)}}

In earlier times, the port of [[Maiuma (city)| Maiuma]], or ''el Mineh'' (Arabic for "the harbour"), was located in the area.<ref>Palmer, 1881, p. [https://archive.org/stream/surveyofwesternp00conduoft#page/361/mode/1up 361]</ref>
In the late [[Ottoman Syria|Ottoman]] era, [[Pierre Jacotin]] named the place ''Majumas'' on his map from 1799.<ref>Karmon, 1960, p. [http://www.jchp.ucla.edu/Bibliography/Karmon,_Y_1960_Jacotin_Map_(IEJ_10).pdf 173]</ref>

In 1883, the [[Palestine Exploration Fund|PEF]]'s [[PEF Survey of Palestine|''Survey of Western Palestine'' (SWP)]] noted that ''el Mineh'' was probably the ancient [[Maiuma (city)| Maiuma]].<ref>Conder and Kitchener, 1883, SWP III, p. [https://archive.org/stream/surveyofwesternp03conduoft#page/236/mode/1up 236]</ref>

In 2011, eight Roman columns believed to be the remains of a church were swept ashore during a storm.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20853440 Gaza's archaeological treasures at risk from war and neglect] 7 January 2013, BBC</ref> In 2013, the Palestinian Naval Police found ancient artifacts that included poles and baked clay.<ref name=naval_police>[https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20140217-gaza-naval-police-excavate-archaeological-site-off-the-gaza-coast/ Gaza naval police excavate archaeological site off the Gaza coast], February 17, 2014, Memo</ref>

===Since 1994===
In 2002, Israeli forces attacked the Palestinian Naval Police facilities in the port,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1756347.stm Israeli navy attacks Gaza port], 12 January 2002, [[BBC]]</ref> after Naval Police commanders were implicated in the [[Karine A affair]], an attempt to secretly bring in 50 tons of weapons by boat into Gaza.

In 2007, following [[Hamas' takeover of Gaza]], [[Israel]] imposed a [[blockade of the Gaza Strip]], including a naval blockade.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/01/israeli-navy-gaza-humanitarian-aid-block Israeli navy blocks Gaza aid ship], 1 December 2008, [[The Guardian]]</ref> Several attempts to break the Israeli blockade have been made.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/news/u-s-leftists-confirm-plans-to-sail-to-gaza-to-break-siege-1.250726 U.S. leftists confirm plans to sail to Gaza to break siege] 29 July 2008 U.S. [[Haaretz]]</ref> Israel has prevented most ships from docking at the Port of Gaza, but did allow two boats, carrying activists and some supplies, to reach the port in 2008.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Navy-lets-another-boat-into-Gaza-port Navy lets another boat into Gaza port], by Yaakov Katz and Herb Keinon 9 December 2008, [[The Jerusalem Post]]</ref> As at 2010, the port was restricted to smaller Palestinian fishing boats.<ref name=jpost270510/>

In 2010, the port was deepened by Hamas in preparation for the arrival of a [[2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla|blockade-breaking flotilla]] of larger international ships.<ref name=jpost270510>[http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Gaza-port-readies-for-flotilla Gaza port readies for flotilla], May 27, 2010, [[Jerusalem Post]]</ref>

=== Gaza war ===
{{Main|Gaza war}}
The port and more than 90% of docked vessels were destroyed by Israel during the [[Gaza war]]; the damage included targeted aerial strikes on fishing vessels and maritime artillery impacts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Photos: Port of Gaza left in ruins |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/photos-port-gaza-left-ruins |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 2023 |title=Strikes on Gaza City Port |url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/israel-hamas-war-gaza/card/strikes-on-gaza-city-port-EqnV87MbiVYbvkZVfkXg |access-date=4 December 2024 |website=Wall Street Journal}}</ref>

== Gaza Seaport plans ==
{{Main|Gaza Seaport plans}}
[[File:Fishermen in Gaza.jpg|thumb|Fishermen at the port in 2019]]

Since the 1993 [[Oslo I Accord]], there have been plans to build a much larger [[Gaza Seaport plans|seaport in Gaza]]. Due to the continued [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]], these plans have not materialized as of 2024.

In 2005, Israel approved Palestinian plans to rebuild and complete the construction of a port a few miles south of Gaza City, which had begun before the outbreak of the [[Second Intifada]] in September 2000. The building was destroyed by Israeli forces together with Gaza's existing airport near Rafah following the outbreak of the Second Intifada.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/1483754/Palestinians-to-rebuild-Gaza-sea-port-in-latest-peace-move.html Palestinians to rebuild Gaza sea port in latest peace move], Anton La Guardia, 17 February 2005, [[The Daily Telegraph]]</ref>

== U.S.-installed floating pier ==
{{Main article|Gaza floating pier}}

In 2024, the [[United States Army]] and [[United States Navy|Navy]] began constructing a [[Gaza floating pier|floating pier]] at the Port of Gaza to bring in food to the people of the Gaza Strip.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Victoria |last2=Boxerman |first2=Aaron |date=9 March 2024 |title=As U.S. Rushes to Build Gaza Port, Major Challenges Loom |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/09/world/middleeast/us-gaza-aid-port-israel.html |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The pier was actually built in next door Israel and moved to Gaza. The United States and other countries also built an offshore platform a kilometre away from this pier. The aid was moved from the platform to this pier.<ref> {{Cite news |last=Borger |first=Julian |date=2024-05-17 |title=Supplies arrive in Gaza via new pier but land routes essential, says US aid chief |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/17/gaza-pier-aid-un-distribution |access-date=2024-06-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>
{{Cite news |last=Tondo |first=Lorenzo |last2=Burke |first2=Jason |last3=Tantesh |first3=Malak A. |last4=Borger |first4=Julian |date=2024-05-16 |title=US completes installation of floating pier to deliver aid to Gaza |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/16/us-completes-installation-of-floating-pier-to-deliver-aid-to-gaza |access-date=2024-06-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} </ref> On 20 May, the pier was damaged due to rains and wind.<ref> {{Cite news |last=Youssef |first=Nancy A. |title=Pentagon Shuts Down Floating Pier for Gaza Aid After Storm Damage |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/pentagon-shuts-down-floating-pier-after-storm-damage-2017a811 |access-date=2024-06-04 |work=WSJ |language=en-US}} </ref> In July 2024, the pier was permanently dismantled.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 July 2024 |title=The rise and fall of the US aid pier for Gaza |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-us-aid-pier-for-gaza/ |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last1=Conder|first1=C.R.|author-link1=Claude Reignier Conder|last2=Kitchener|first2=H.H.|author-link2=Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|year=1883|url=https://archive.org/details/surveyofwesternp03conduoft|title=The Survey of Western Palestine: Memoirs of the Topography, Orography, Hydrography, and Archaeology|location=London|publisher=[[Palestine Exploration Fund|Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund]]|volume=3}}
* {{cite book|last1=Doughty|first1=Dick|first2=Mohammed |last2=El Aydi|year=1995|title=Gaza: legacy of occupation--a photographer's journey |publisher=Kumarian Press |isbn=1-56549-044-4}}
* {{cite journal |author =Karmon, Y. |title = An Analysis of Jacotin's Map of Palestine|url=http://www.jchp.ucla.edu/Bibliography/Karmon,_Y_1960_Jacotin_Map_(IEJ_10).pdf |journal = [[Israel Exploration Journal]]| volume = 10 |issue = 3,4 |year = 1960 |pages = 155–173; 244–253}}
* {{cite book|last=Palmer|first=E.H.|author-link=Edward Henry Palmer|year=1881|url=https://archive.org/details/surveyofwesternp00conduoft|title=The Survey of Western Palestine: Arabic and English Name Lists Collected During the Survey by Lieutenants Conder and Kitchener, R. E. Transliterated and Explained by E.H. Palmer|publisher=[[Palestine Exploration Fund|Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund]]}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.307024501306.152558.306817171306&type=3 ''Photos of the Port and the Sea of Gaza on Facebook'']
* Survey of Western Palestine, Map 19: [http://www.iaa-archives.org.il/zoom/zoom.aspx?folder_id=93&type_id=6&id=8381 IAA], [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Survey_of_Western_Palestine_1880.19.jpg Wikimedia commons]

{{Gaza City}}
{{coord|31|31|30.77|N|34|25|51.84|E|display=title}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in the Gaza Strip]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of the Mediterranean]]
[[Category:Nabataea]]
[[Category:History of the Arabian Peninsula]]
[[Category:History of Palestine (region)]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Palestine]]
[[Category:Rimal]]

Port of Gaza - Revision history

imported>Onel5969: Disambiguating links to Gaza Freedom Flotilla (link changed to 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla) using DisamAssist.