Lexi Webster
The Gaza Strip is a small piece of land in the Middle East that is home to over two million Palestinians. It is 40 kilometres long, about the size of a large Australian suburb. Since the mid-20th century, there has been an ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians over land ownership and usage, resulting in violence and destruction in the region. Australia has been providing humanitarian assistance to support civilians impacted by the conflict, with funding directed towards providing food, water, and medical care through organisations like the Red Cross and Red Crescent movements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Land Area | Gaza: 365 km² (141 mi²) Australia: 7,692,024 km² (2,969,907 mi²) |
| Population | Gaza: 2.1 million (2022) Australia: 26 million (2022) |
| Population Density | Gaza: 5,753 people/km² Australia: 3.3 people/km² |
| Land Borders | Gaza: 63 km (border with Israel and Egypt) Australia: 0 km (an island continent) |
| Coastline | Gaza: 40 km Australia: 25,760 km |
| Highest Point | Gaza: Abu 'Awdah (Joe's Hill), 105 m (344 ft) Australia: Mount Kosciuszko, 2,228 m (7,310 ft) |
| Lowest Point | Gaza: Mediterranean Sea, 0 m Australia: Lake Eyre, 15 m (49 ft) below sea level |
| Climate | Gaza: Hot-summer Mediterranean climate Australia: Mostly desert or semi-arid, temperate in south and east |
| Land Use | Gaza: 37.4% arable land, 33.6% agricultural land, 28.9% built-up area Australia: 6.0% arable land, 53.7% agricultural land, 40.3% forest, 10% other |
| Natural Resources | Gaza: Limited, primarily agricultural land Australia: Coal, iron ore, natural gas, gold, uranium, nickel, oil shale, rare earth elements |
| Water Sources | Gaza: Coastal aquifers, desalinated seawater Australia: Murray-Darling basin, Lake Eyre basin, numerous rivers and groundwater sources |
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What You'll Learn
- Gaza Strip: 40-kilometres long, home to 2 million+ Palestinians
- Gaza-Israel conflict: an ongoing battle for land since the mid-20th century
- Australia's role: providing humanitarian aid, funding UN agencies, and Red Cross
- International response: world leaders and organisations call for peace, Israel condemned
- The West Bank: an area with cultural and religious history, part of the State of Palestine
Gaza Strip: 40-kilometres long, home to 2 million+ Palestinians
The Gaza Strip is a small piece of land in the Middle East that is 40 kilometres long and is home to over 2 million Palestinians. It is about the size of a large Australian suburb. The Gaza Strip is bordered by Israel and the Mediterranean Sea, and is separated from another area called the West Bank, which is also part of the State of Palestine.
The situation in Gaza and Israel is complex and has been ongoing since the mid-20th century. The conflict is primarily between Israelis, who live mostly in Israel, and Palestinians, who live mostly in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Both groups have a strong connection to the land and have tried to make agreements to share it, but these have often fallen apart, leading to violence and fighting.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the destruction of roads and buildings in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. International organizations like UNICEF have been providing essential support to children and families in the region, including access to safe learning spaces and education and humanitarian aid.
The dense population of the Gaza Strip, coupled with the conflict, has led to challenging living conditions for its residents. There are frequent reports of shortages of essential supplies, such as baby formula and flour, and the inflation of prices for available goods. The international community has expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with countries like Australia providing humanitarian assistance and funding to support civilians impacted by the conflict.
Despite efforts to find a peaceful resolution, the conflict in the Gaza Strip continues to escalate, with attacks and counter-attacks between Israel and groups like Hamas. The complex nature of the situation has made it challenging to achieve a lasting peace that meets the needs and interests of all parties involved.
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Gaza-Israel conflict: an ongoing battle for land since the mid-20th century
The Gaza Strip is a small piece of land in the Middle East, about 40 kilometres long, comparable in size to a large Australian suburb. It is home to over two million people, known as Palestinians, who have a strong connection to the land. The Gaza Strip, along with the West Bank, is known as the State of Palestine. However, it is separated from the West Bank by Israeli land.
Since the mid-20th century, there has been an ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians over this land. Both sides have tried to make agreements to share the land, but these have often fallen apart, leading to renewed fighting over territory. This conflict has resulted in roads and buildings being destroyed and has caused significant harm to civilians, including children, on both sides.
The situation escalated in October 2023 when Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing and taking hostage many Israelis and foreign nationals. This was followed by Israeli airstrikes and a ground incursion into Gaza, with the stated aim of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages. The conflict has continued since then, with periodic ceasefires that are often short-lived.
The war has had severe consequences for the people of Gaza, with reports of starvation, lack of access to medical supplies, and destruction of infrastructure. International organisations like UNICEF have been providing humanitarian aid and support to children and families affected by the conflict.
The conflict has also had regional and international repercussions, with protests worldwide calling for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting. Despite efforts from world leaders and humanitarian organisations, the Gaza-Israel conflict remains unresolved, with periodic flare-ups of violence that cause further devastation to both Israelis and Palestinians.
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Australia's role: providing humanitarian aid, funding UN agencies, and Red Cross
The Gaza Strip, a small piece of land in the Middle East that sits between Israel and the Mediterranean Sea, is about 40 kilometres long—roughly the size of a large Australian suburb. Despite its relatively small size, the region is home to over two million people.
Australia's Role
Providing Humanitarian Aid
Australia has played a role in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. In May 2025, Australia joined 22 other nations in demanding that Israel allow aid to enter Gaza, stating that the population faced starvation. The Australian government implored Israel to uphold humanitarian principles by allowing the full resumption of aid and for aid groups to work independently and impartially.
Funding UN Agencies
Australia has provided funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to support humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the conflict in Gaza. In addition, Australia provided an extra $4 million to UNICEF to provide urgent services, particularly for women and children, and $2 million to the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza to facilitate expanded humanitarian access. In total, Australia committed over $52.5 million towards humanitarian assistance.
Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has also been active in Gaza, facilitating the release and reunification of hostages with their families outside of the region. ICRC experts, including a war surgery team and a weapons contamination specialist, have been on the ground in Gaza, providing urgently needed medical materials and water purification supplies. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organisation that relies on volunteers and donations from the public to carry out its mission.
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International response: world leaders and organisations call for peace, Israel condemned
The Gaza Strip is a small piece of land in the Middle East that measures 40 kilometres in length. To put that into perspective, it is about the size of a large Australian suburb. Yet, this small territory is home to over two million people, known as Palestinians. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has resulted in devastating consequences for the people of Gaza, with roads and buildings destroyed and thousands of lives lost or forever altered.
In response to the escalating violence, world leaders and organisations have called for peace and condemned Israel's actions. Here is an examination of some of these responses:
International Organisations
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) released a statement on 20 October, urging an immediate end to violence and calling for the creation of a humanitarian corridor to ensure the security of civilians. ASEAN also reaffirmed its support for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
Individual Countries
- Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau strongly condemned the attacks on Israel, calling them "terrorist attacks" and expressing support for Israel's right to defend itself. However, he later criticised the killing of civilians in the Gaza Strip and stated that Israel's actions put long-term support into question.
- Czech Republic: Prime Minister Petr Fiala participated in pro-Israel demonstrations and affirmed his country's solidarity with Israel. He also condemned the attacks, expressing concern for the innocent victims.
- Denmark: Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen strongly denounced the attacks against Israel, offering condolences to the victims and their families.
- Kenya: Korir Sing'Oei, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Foreign Affairs, condemned the "despicable terror attack" on Israel while acknowledging Israel's right to retaliate. However, he urged a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
- Libya: The High Council of State expressed support for Palestine, calling for an immediate halt to Israeli attacks in Gaza and severing diplomatic ties with countries supporting Israel.
These responses reflect a broader international sentiment calling for an end to the violence and a return to peace negotiations. While some countries have expressed unwavering support for Israel, others have criticised Israel's actions and urged a focus on protecting civilians and finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
The situation in Gaza is complex, and the international community's role in promoting peace and accountability is crucial. With the ongoing suffering and loss of life, the pressure for a sustainable resolution is more urgent than ever.
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The West Bank: an area with cultural and religious history, part of the State of Palestine
The Gaza Strip is a small piece of land in the Middle East, approximately 40 kilometres long, or about the size of a large Australian suburb. It is home to over two million people, known as Palestinians. The Gaza Strip, along with the West Bank, is known as the State of Palestine.
The West Bank, an area with a rich cultural and religious history, is part of the State of Palestine. It is an area of land lying between Israel and Jordan, with the Dead Sea to its south. The West Bank was named after being captured by Jordan in 1949, but Israel took control of the territory after the Six-Day War in 1967. Today, parts of it are administered by Israel, and parts by the Palestinian Authority.
The West Bank is home to many holy sites that are sacred to three major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. One such site is the Cave of St. Jerome, where St. Jerome is said to have translated the Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek. The Great Mosque of Nablus, originally built as a Byzantine church, is another significant religious site in the West Bank. It was converted into a mosque during the Islamic era, rebuilt as a Latin church by the Crusaders, and finally reconstructed as a mosque in the 12th century.
Other notable religious sites in the West Bank include the Mosque of Prophet Yunus, Rachel's Tomb (known as 'Kever Rachel' by Jews and as the 'Bilal bin Rahab' mosque by Muslims), the Cave of the Patriarchs (or the Cave of Machpelah), and the Church of the Nativity. These sites are not only religiously significant but also bear witness to the long and complex history of the region, with some buildings having been used by multiple faiths over the centuries.
The West Bank has been at the centre of the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, with both groups having a strong connection to the land and contesting claims over who should live there and how the land should be used. Despite the challenges, it is possible to visit the West Bank, especially as part of an organized tour.
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Frequently asked questions
Gaza, or the Gaza Strip, is a small piece of land in the Middle East that is 40 kilometres long. It is home to over two million people.
Australia is a large country and continent in Oceania. It is approximately 4,000 kilometres wide and 3,200 kilometres long, with a total land area of 7,692,024 square kilometres.
Gaza is much smaller than Australia. At 40 kilometres long, it is comparable in size to a large Australian suburb.
