What Happened to the Jews of Gaza?

When you think of Gaza today, the images that likely come to mind are of rockets, tunnels, and violence. But what if I told you that Gaza once had Jewish communities, synagogues, and families that had lived there for generations? Yes, Jews lived in Gaza. And they didn’t just live there—they thrived. Today, Gaza is synonymous with hostility toward Israel, but the reality is that Gaza’s Jewish history is older than Islam itself. So, what happened to the Jews of Gaza?

Figure of King David from the Synagogue at Gaza, Shutterstock

A Legacy Older Than Islam

Let’s rewind way back. The Jewish presence in Gaza dates to biblical times. Remember Samson? Yep, that Samson—he brought down the Philistine temple in Gaza (Judges 16:30). Fast forward to the Roman period, and you’ll find Jewish communities flourishing. By the 6th century CE, the famous Jewish scholar Rabbi Yisrael Najara served as the Chief Rabbi of Gaza. His synagogue was an integral part of the community, and his liturgical poems are still sung in Sephardic communities today.

Menorah engraving illustration present in a column inside the Great Mosque of Gaza, Wikimedia

During the Ottoman Empire, Jews continued to live in Gaza, working as merchants, scholars, and craftsmen. Gaza was not just a Muslim city but a diverse one. Jewish life was normalized and even celebrated. The Jews of Gaza shared the space with Muslims and Christians without too much friction. That’s an important thing to remember when we’re fed the constant lie that Jews have no connection to Gaza.

Then Came the 20th Century: A Storm Brewing

The situation began to change in the early 20th century, as Arab nationalism and increasing hostilities targeted Jews. In 1929, Arab riots broke out, and the Jewish community of Gaza, which at the time numbered about 100, was forced to flee. Their homes were looted and destroyed, and the ancient synagogue was desecrated.

That wasn’t the end, though. Some Jews returned in the 1940s, but the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 marked another turning point. When the Egyptian army took control of Gaza during the War of Independence, the remaining Jews had to leave. Gaza fell into Egyptian hands, and any trace of its Jewish past was systematically erased. Synagogues were neglected or destroyed, and Jewish cemeteries were left to decay.

Arabs set on fire Jewish village in the land in 1929, Wikimedia

The Gush Katif Era: A Modern Jewish Return

Fast forward to 1967, when Israel recaptured Gaza during the Six-Day War. Soon after, a new wave of Jewish settlers arrived, establishing communities like Gush Katif. This bloc of 17 Jewish settlements became a flourishing area with agriculture, schools, and—you guessed it—synagogues.

These weren’t just some makeshift prayer spaces. The synagogues of Gush Katif were beautiful and modern, with Torah scrolls, libraries, and vibrant religious life. Families celebrated Shabbat, planted crops, and raised children on land that, historically speaking, had been home to Jews long before the Palestinian identity was even conceived.

But in 2005, Israel made a gut-wrenching decision: the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. The Jewish residents of Gush Katif were evacuated, often forcibly, from their homes. It was a traumatic event for the settlers, many of whom had been living there for decades. Their homes were bulldozed, but the synagogues remained—at least for a while.

Homes in Neve Dekalim, Gush Katif, Gaza (Photo by Yakov Ben-Avraham, Wikimedia)

A Sickening Desecration

When Israel left Gaza, the synagogues were handed over to the Palestinian Authority. The international community had begged Israel to dismantle them, fearing their desecration. Israel, hoping against hope for a shred of respect, left them standing. Within days, these houses of worship were ransacked, burned, and destroyed. The world watched in silence.

Let me be blunt: If Jews had stormed into mosques and set them on fire, the global outrage would have been deafening. But when it’s Jewish holy sites desecrated by Palestinians, the world shrugs. That’s the reality of modern antisemitism.

One of the most famous synagogues destroyed was the “Ohel Yitzhak” in Netzarim. Video footage from the time shows mobs tearing down the walls, and celebrating their victory over the Jews. The message was clear: Gaza was now Judenrein—free of Jews.

Where Is the Outrage?

As a Jew, this story makes my blood boil. Jews have lived in Gaza since before Islam existed. We were there when the Philistines ruled, when the Romans occupied, and when the Ottomans controlled the land. Yet today, the mere suggestion that Jews have a historical connection to Gaza is branded as propaganda.

The world loves to romanticize Palestinian identity while erasing Jewish history. The Jews of Gaza were erased not just physically but historically. This is how propaganda works—by repeating a lie often enough that it becomes truth.

Gaza today is not a place where Jews could live safely. Hamas, which rules Gaza with an iron fist, has openly called for the eradication of Jews. They don’t just want Israel gone—they want Jews gone. And yet, people still make excuses for them.

Final Thought

Psalm 137:5 says, “If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.” The same goes for Gaza. If we forget the Jews of Gaza, we are complicit in erasing our own history. Gaza had Jews—no matter how much the world hates it.