Az-Zawayda (Arabic: الزوايدة), also spelled Zawaida, is a Palestinian town in the Gaza Strip, in the Deir al-Balah Governorate of the State of Palestine. It is located about three kilometers northeast of the city of Deir al-Balah and just west of Maghazi refugee camp. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) 2017 census, there were 23,841 residents.[1]

Az-Zawayda
الزوايدة
Arabic transcription(s)
  Arabicالزوايدة
  LatinZawaida (official)
al-Zawaydeh (unofficial)
Az-Zawayda is located in State of Palestine
Az-Zawayda
Az-Zawayda
Location of Az-Zawayda within Palestine
Coordinates: 31°25′50″N 34°22′18″E / 31.43056°N 34.37167°E / 31.43056; 34.37167
State State of Palestine
GovernorateDeir al-Balah
Government
  TypeCity
  ControlHamas Hamas
Area
  Total
15.3 km2 (5.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)[1]
  Total
23,841
  Density1,560/km2 (4,040/sq mi)

History

During the Gaza war, an Israeli attack killed at least 13 people after hitting a house in az-Zawayda.[2] Several weeks later, three Israeli missiles struck a warehouse used as shelter by a displaced family, killing at least 16 people, including six children.[3] According to a neighbor, "They were asleep in their beds, kids and babies, then three missiles targeted their place".[4] One of the killed was a wholesale retailer who worked with the Israeli military to bring food into the Gaza Strip.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Preliminary Results of the Population, Housing and Establishments Census, 2017 (PDF). Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) (Report). State of Palestine. February 2018. pp. 64–82. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  2. "Israeli military bombs home in az-Zawayda, killing at least 13 Palestinians". YouTube. Al Jazeera English. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  3. Mccready, Alastair; Quillen, Stephen; Uras, Umut. "Children 'torn to pieces' in az-Zawayda attack". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  4. Al-Mughrabi, Nidal. "Israeli strike kills at least 17 Palestinians in central Gaza, health officials say". Reuters. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  5. Shurafa, Wafaa (17 August 2024). "An Israeli airstrike kills 18 members of a family in Gaza as mediators hope for a cease-fire". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 August 2024.