Text: Prof. Moshe Hakohen-Eliya

Gaza in the „Pax Americana“

Gaza has always been a lump in Israel’s throat. It all began at the end of the 13th and beginning of the 12th centuries BCE, when a major climate crisis hit the eastern Mediterranean. Drought, famine, and the collapse of trade led many peoples to migrate – in Egyptian sources, they are called the „Sea Peoples.“ One of these groups was the Philistines, who came from the Aegean region – that is, from Crete („Caftor“ in the Bible) and southern Greece.

After they were defeated by Pharaoh Ramses III in major sea and land battles around 1177 BCE, some of them were allowed to settle in the southern coastal region of Canaan. There they founded five major cities: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath.

Archaeological excavations in these cities reveal a mixture of cultures: the Philistines brought Mycenaean-style pottery and combined it with Canaanite culture. Thus, a new, mixed culture emerged in the heart of Canaan. The difference was also evident in the food: many pig bones were found in Philistine towns, but almost none in Israelite towns.

The Philistines became Israel’s constant enemies – from Goliath against David to Samson the Warrior. In the 8th century BC, their influence weakened: the Assyrian king Sennacherib conquered the Land of Judah, and the Philistines became his subjects. Later, the Babylonians completely destroyed their independence. With that, the Philistine people disappeared – but Gaza remained. Since then, this city has repeatedly played the same role: a problem at the heart of the history of the Land of Israel.

After the Bar Kokhba Revolt (135 AD), the Roman Emperor Hadrian wanted to punish the Jewish people. He changed the name of the province from „Judea“ to „Syria Palaestina“—after Israel’s old enemies, the Philistines—in order to erase the connection between the Jewish people and their land.

In the 19th century, when Jewish settlement in Israel resumed and brought economic growth, many immigrants arrived from Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula. Many of them settled in Gaza and on the southern coast. This gave rise to Gaza’s current population—not descendants of the old Philistines, but descendants of Arab immigrants of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The 2023-2025 war („War of Renewal“) is fundamentally changing Gaza. After destroying approximately 70% of the buildings, the United States is now taking control. Its goal is to create a major trade route—from India via Saudi Arabia and Israel to Italy. This route is intended to equalize or surpass China’s „New Silk Road.“ To this end, the US is jointly building a base in Kiryat Gat with Israel to monitor Gaza from.

At the same time, America is also constructing a massive diplomatic complex (“embassy”) north of Beirut – 44 dunams in size, with 130,000 square meters of building space. For President Trump, success in the Middle East is crucial, especially because he has so far been unable to end the war in Ukraine. Therefore, he is personally leading this project.

Israel remains a regional power. It has persuaded the US to attack Iranian nuclear targets and to support Israel militarily and diplomatically in the war against Hamas. Nevertheless, Israel must learn to deal wisely with the “American giant”: to cooperate with it where possible and to seize opportunities – for example, when Hamas refuses to surrender its weapons and then comes into direct conflict with the US.

The question of Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) remains open. But one thing is clear: There must be no Palestinian state. Israel needs territorial depth along the historic mountain range that formed the heart of the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah as early as the 11th and 10th centuries BC—with Jerusalem to the south and Shiloh, Tirzah, Shomron, and Shechem to the north.

This mountain range is the historical and strategic heart of Israel—the backbone of its history and culture. Therefore, it must remain under stable Israeli control, as part of the historical and security depth of the Jewish state.

Agreed?