Located in the southeastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea between Israel and Egypt, Gaza is an ancient city with an unfortunate recent history of war and occupation by Britain (1917-1948), Egypt (1948-1967), and Israel (1967-2005). Since 2007 Gaza has been governed by the Hamas movement which assumed the status, de facto, of an autonomous but besieged city-state. Beginning on 7 October 2023 the ongoing Gaza War has resulted in widespread destruction throughout the territory and the loss of Gaza's only active lighthouse.
Gaza has no natural harbor and no commercial harbor but it has a small fishing harbor enclosed by breakwaters. There are no internationally-recognized aids to navigation.
- General Sources
- World of Lighthouses - Palestinian Authority
- Photos by various photographers available from Lightphotos.net.
- Lighthouses
- #Gaza
- 2016. Destroyed in 2024. The lighthouse had a focal plane about 16 m (52 ft) and a continuous white light. 14 m (45 ft) round tower with lantern; the tower was covered with multi-colored zinc and tin plates. Dr. Basem Naim's photo is at right, a commercial photo is available, and there's a photo of the light in action. Google's satellite view shows no trace remaining of the lighthouse. The lighthouse was designed by the artist Sharif Sarhan and built using materials recycled from buildings destroyed in the fighting with Isreali forces in 2014. The construction was funded by the A.M. Qattan Foundation and the Danish Center for Culture and Development. Located at the base of the north (main) breakwater of Gaza's harbor. Site open, tower closed.
- #[Gaza North Breakwater]
- Date unknown. Demolished (we don't know if this beacon was ever lit.) Approx. 15 m (49 ft) round conical tower on a round cylindrical base, topped by a tall mast. Lightphotos.net has a December 2013 photo by Mahmud Hams. However, the light is not seen in a December 2015 street view by Hussam El-Madhoun or in Google's indistinct satellite view. Formerly located on the north breakwater of Gaza's harbor. Site open.
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Gaza Light, Gaza, June 2016
ex-Twitter
photo copyright Dr. Basem Naim; permission requested
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