Gaza Strip in maps: What it's like for the people who live there

It is under the control of the militant Islamist group Hamas, which ejected forces loyal to the then governing Palestinian Authority (PA) after a violent rift in 2007.

Since then, Israel and Egypt have restricted the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza, saying their blockade is needed for security reasons.

Hamas - designated a terrorist group by the US, EU and UK, as well as other powers - has fought several wars with Israel since taking power in Gaza.

It has also fired, or allowed other militant groups to fire, thousands of rockets at Israel and carried out other deadly attacks.