Facts About Gaza BACKGROUND INFO Facts Area: 139 square miles Population: 1,500,202 Population density: 11,060 people per square mile, the most densely populated area in the world Percentage of population who are refugees: 70% Unemployment rate: 45.5% Percentage of population dependent on foreign aid: 86% Timeline 1967-2005: Israel occupies the Gaza Strip, establishing 21 settlements throughout September 2005: Israel unilaterally disengages from Gaza, removing settlements but maintaining control of the borders, the coastline and air space January 2006: Hamas wins Palestinian Parliamentary elections January 2007: Fighting between Hamas and Fatah results in the ousting of Fatah from Gaza June 2007: Israel seals Gaza?s borders and launching a comprehensive siege of the strip June 2008: Egypt brokers a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel Timeline November 2008: Israeli military enters Gaza, killing six Hamas gunmen 19 December 2008: ceasefire between Hamas and Israel expires 27 December 2008: Israeli Airstrike against Hamas in Gaza 3 January 2009: Israeli ground troops enter Gaza, launching a second phase of the war 6 January 2009: Israeli missile hits a United Nations operated school, killing over 40 Palestinian civilians seeking refuge from the violence 17 January 2009: Israel issues a unilateral ceasefire; Hamas issues a conditional ceasefire 21 January 2009: Israeli troops complete their pullout from Gaza Casualties and Additional Consequences Casualties Palestinian dead: 1,417 Palestinian wounded: 5,303 Israeli dead: 13 Israeli wounded: 518 The United Nations estimates that nearly 30% of Palestinian casualties are women and children 14,000+ buildings destroyed 71,675 Palestinians forced into shelters after losing their homes Most Pales