# Zaytun Quarter

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Neighborhood in Gaza, Palestine

Neighborhood in Gaza, Gaza Governorate, State of Palestine

Zeitoun الزيتون Neighborhood Zaitoun Ruins in Zaytun in 2024 Interactive map of Zeitoun Zeitoun Location in the Gaza Strip Coordinates: 31°29′15″N 34°26′38″E / 31.48750°N 34.44389°E / 31.48750; 34.44389 State State of Palestine Governorate Gaza Governorate City Gaza Government • Control Contested: Israel Hamas Time zone UTC+2 (EET) • Summer (DST) +3

**Al-Zaytun** (also spelled **Zeitoun** or **Harat az-Zaytoun**; [Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): الزيتون; Arabic translation: "the Quarter of Olive trees"[1]) is the southwestern and largest quarter of the [Old City of Gaza](/source/Old_City_of_Gaza).[2] Prior to the demolition of the Old City's walls, it was one of the three walled quarters of Gaza's Old City, the other two being [al-Tuffah](/source/Al-Tuffah) in the northeast and [al-Daraj](/source/Al-Daraj) in the northwest. [Omar Mukhtar Street](/source/Omar_Mukhtar_Street), Gaza City's main thoroughfare, separates al-Zaytun from al-Daraj.[3]

## History

The northwestern part of al-Zaytun was known as "Dar al-Khudar" ("the Vegetable House"), which was a small subdivision that contained the open-air vegetable market known as "Suq al-Khudar". In 1525, Dar al-Khudar contained 43 households,[4] while Zaytun, the south eastern part of present Al-Zaytun, had 54 households and 30 bachelors,[5] and Nasara, close to the [Church of Saint Porphyrius](/source/Church_of_Saint_Porphyrius), had 82 households.[6]

The [Christian](/source/Palestinian_Christian) and [Jewish](/source/Jew) neighborhoods of Gaza were also a part of al-Zaytun. The 5th century [Saint Porphryrius Church](/source/Saint_Porphryrius_Church), belonging to the [Greek Orthodox](/source/Greek_Orthodox) denomination, is located in al-Zaytun and stands alongside the 14th century [Kateb al-Welaya Mosque](/source/Kateb_al-Welaya_Mosque), with only two meters of space in between the former's bell tower and the latter's [minaret](/source/Minaret). Adjacent to the church is the old Christian graveyard.[3] Also located in al-Zaytun is the [al-Shamah Mosque](/source/Al-Shamah_Mosque).[7]

The last Jewish residents of al-Zaytun were evacuated by the British army following the [1929 Palestine riots](/source/1929_Palestine_riots).

It was expanded in the 1930s and 1940s as Gaza developed outside its center. Much of the funding for the initial construction is attributed to foreign institutions, such as missionary hospitals.[8] After the [1948 Arab-Israeli War](/source/1948_Arab-Israeli_War), with the influx of [Palestinian refugees](/source/Palestinian_refugee), Zeitoun's population swelled. [Ahmed Yassin](/source/Ahmed_Yassin)'s family settled the district in the 1950s.[9]

### 2008–2009 Gaza War

Main article: [Zeitoun killings](/source/Zeitoun_killings)

During the [2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict](/source/2008%E2%80%932009_Israel%E2%80%93Gaza_conflict), the [Israel Defense Forces](/source/Israel_Defense_Forces) (IDF) launched a [ground incursion in the area](/source/Zeitoun_killings), occupying the district. During this period, 48 Palestinians, mostly from three families, were killed. In addition, 27 homes, a number of farms, and a mosque were destroyed.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

### Gaza war (2023–)

Main article: [Gaza war](/source/Gaza_war)

An [IDF Caterpillar D9](/source/IDF_Caterpillar_D9) in Zaytun in May 2024

The Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City became a focal point of attack by the IDF during the [Gaza war](/source/Gaza_war). On October 19, 2023, the Israeli Air Force [struck](/source/Church_of_Saint_Porphyrius_airstrike) the neighborhood's historic [Church of Saint Porphyrius](/source/Church_of_Saint_Porphyrius), killing 19 civilians.[10] In 2024, the [749 Battalion](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=749_Battalion&action=edit&redlink=1) was deployed to southern Gaza City, including Zeitoun, as part of a broader campaign involving demolition and population displacement.[11] Reports indicated that the area experienced widespread destruction as part of the IDF’s ongoing efforts in the region.[12]

The wreckage of the UNRWA Al-Zaytoon Prep Male School in February 2024

A video shared by a member of the IDF’s D9 bulldozer company documented the demolition of several homes in Zeitoun. The video, later reposted on the company’s official social media account, included the caption, “Our job is to flatten Gaza.” Additional commentary on the post affirmed the company’s determination, stating, “No one will stop us.”[11] The footage, along with other footage from the Zeitoun neighborhood, drew criticism from international observers including [Amnesty](/source/Amnesty_International) for their impact on civilian infrastructure and population centers.[13]

The neighborhood's partially destroyed Church of Saint Porphyrius was threatened by a renewed Israeli incursion in May 2024.[14] In September 2024, amid the Israeli military's seventh incursion in the neighborhood, Israeli warplanes struck a school-turned-shelter in the neighborhood, killing more than a dozen people.[15][16]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Palmer, p. [359](https://archive.org/stream/surveyofwesternp00conduoft#page/359/mode/1up)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sharon_2-0)** [Sharon, Moshe](/source/Moshe_Sharon) (2009). "Gaza". [*Corpus Inscriptionum Arabicarum Palaestinae*](https://books.google.com/books?id=P2LtyFVNJmcC). Vol. 4. BRILL. pp. 28–30. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-04-17085-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-17085-8). The old city of Gaza, where all the remnants of the ancient, medieval and early Ottoman city are found, is divided into four quarters, a few of which are subdivided. Three of these quarters (at-Tuffäh, ad-Daraj, and az-Zaytun) were within the walls of the ancient city. The southeastern quarter, as-Saja'iyyah, developed later than the others, mainly outside these walls… The four quarters of the city are as follows… In the southwest (generally: south): Hãrat (or Hayy) az-Zaytün (the "Olive Quarter") called thus because of its olive groves. It is the largest quarter of Gaza… The Daraj Quarter is separated from the Zaytün Quarter by a wide road built during WWI by Jamãl Pasha. He ordered the demolition of a great part of the medieval Khãn az-Zayt to make room for the road to which he gave his name. The city council however, decided to change its name to 'Umar al-Mukhtär Street…

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sharon30_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sharon30_3-1) Sharon, 2009, p. [30](https://books.google.com/books?id=P2LtyFVNJmcC&pg=PA30)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sharon29_4-0)** Sharon, 2009, p. [29](https://books.google.com/books?id=P2LtyFVNJmcC&pg=PA29)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cohen117_5-0)** Cohen and Lewis, 1978, p. 117

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cohen119_6-0)** Cohen and Lewis, 1978, p. 119

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Sharon, 2009, p. [31](https://books.google.com/books?id=P2LtyFVNJmcC&pg=PA31)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Dumper, Abu-Lughod, and Stanley, 2007, p.156.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Milton-Edwards, 1999, p.98.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Vargas, Ramon Antonio (2023-10-21). ["Former US congressman says family members killed in Gaza church blast"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/21/justin-amash-family-members-killed-gaza-church). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 2024-12-03.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dropsitenews20241022_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dropsitenews20241022_11-1) Tirawi, Younis. [""Our Job Is to Flatten Gaza. No One Will Stop Us.""](https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/israel-749-battalion-demolition-gaza). *www.dropsitenews.com*. Retrieved 2024-12-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Middle East: Gaza food markets 'in decay' as starvation looms"](https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1156896). *UN News*. 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2024-12-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Israel/OPT: Israeli military must be investigated for war crime of wanton destruction in Gaza – new investigation"](https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/09/israel-opt-israeli-military-must-be-investigated-for-war-crime-of-wanton-destruction-in-gaza-new-investigation/). *Amnesty International*. 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2024-12-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["New Invasion in Zeitoun, North Gaza Threatens St. Porphyrios Orthodox Church"](https://orderofsaintgeorge.org/zeitoun-gaza-invasion-st-porphyrios/). *Order of Saint George*. Office of Public Relations. 2024-05-11. Retrieved 2024-12-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["5 killed, many injured in Israeli airstrike on school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza"](https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/5-killed-many-injured-in-israeli-airstrike-on-school-sheltering-displaced-palestinians-in-gaza/3330409). *www.aa.com.tr*. Retrieved 2024-12-03.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Most recent Israeli bombing of a school-turned-shelter is latest crime against Gaza's displaced people"](https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6478/Most-recent-Israeli-bombing-of-a-school-turned-shelter-is-latest-crime-against-Gaza%E2%80%99s-displaced-people). *Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor*. 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-12-03.

## Bibliography

- Cohen, Amnon; [Lewis, Bernard](/source/Bernard_Lewis) (1978). *Population and Revenue in the Towns of Palestine in the Sixteenth Century*. Princeton University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-691-09375-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-691-09375-X).

- [Meyer, Martin Abraham](/source/Martin_A._Meyer) (1907). [*History of the city of Gaza: from the earliest times to the present day*](https://archive.org/details/historyofcityofg00meyeuoft). Columbia University Press.

- [Palmer, E. H.](/source/Edward_Henry_Palmer) (1881). [*The Survey of Western Palestine: Arabic and English Name Lists Collected During the Survey by Lieutenants Conder and Kitchener, R. E. Transliterated and Explained by E.H. Palmer*](https://archive.org/details/surveyofwesternp00conduoft). [Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund](/source/Palestine_Exploration_Fund).

- [Sharon, Moshe](/source/Moshe_Sharon) (2009). [*Corpus Inscriptionum Arabicarum Palaestinae, G*](https://books.google.com/books?id=P2LtyFVNJmcC). Vol. 4. BRILL. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-04-17085-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-17085-8).

- Dumper, Michael; Stanley, Bruce E.; [Abu-Lughod, J.](/source/Janet_Abu-Lughod) (2007), *Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia*, ABC-CLIO, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-57607-919-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-57607-919-5)

- Milton-Edwards, Beverley (1999), [*Islamic Politics in Palestine*](https://archive.org/details/islamicpoliticsi00beve), I.B.Tauris, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-86064-475-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-86064-475-7)

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Zeitoun, Gaza](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Zeitoun,_Gaza).

- Survey of Western Palestine, Map 19: [IAA](http://www.iaa-archives.org.il/zoom/zoom.aspx?folder_id=93&type_id=6&id=8381) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230412003755/http://www.iaa-archives.org.il/zoom/zoom.aspx?folder_id=93&type_id=6&id=8381) 2023-04-12 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), [Wikimedia commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Survey_of_Western_Palestine_1880.19.jpg)

v t e Gaza City Gaza History Jewish community Education Port Mayor Neighborhoods Old City Zaytun Quarter Daraj Quarter Tuffah Shuja'iyya Al-Jadida Turukman Nasser Rimal Sabra Al-Shati refugee camp Sheikh Ijlin Sheikh Radwan Tel al-Hawa Mosques Abu Khadra Mosque Aybaki Mosque Great Mosque of Gaza (Great Omari Mosque) Ibn Marwan Mosque Ibn Uthman Mosque Katib al-Wilaya Mosque Mahkamah Mosque† Sayed al-Hashim Mosque Sham'ah Mosque Shaykh Zakariyya Mosque Zofor Domri Mosque Churches Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church Holy Family Catholic Church Gaza Baptist Church† Historic buildings and institutions Ancient Synagogue Hamam al-Sammara Qasr al-Basha Qissariya Market Palestinian Centre for Human Rights Palestinian Legislative Council Central Archives of Gaza City Gaza War Cemetery Health care and education Al-Ahli Arab Hospital Al-Aqsa University Al-Azhar University Al-Rantisi Hospital Islamic University Al-Shifa Hospital Kamal Adwan Hospital Al-Awda Hospital Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital Recreation and cultural centers Al-Bustan Bisan City Al-Deira Hotel Faisal Equestrian Club Gaza Mall Al-Andalusia mall Gaza Museum of Archaeology Palestine Stadium Rashad Shawa Cultural Center Roots Club As-Sadaka Gaza YMCA Streets and squares Ahmad Orabi Street Izz Ad Din Al Qassam Street Jamal Abdel Nasser Street Omar Mukhtar Street Palestine Square Al-Rashid Street Salah al-Din Road Suq Street Unknown Soldier's Square Wehda Street Neighborhood map Al-Awda Al-Shati Nasser Sheikh Radwan North Rimal South Rimal Sabra Daraj Tuffah Old City Turukman Al-Jadida Shuja'iyya East al-Jadida East Turukman Zaytun Tel al-Hawa Sheikh Ijlin

v t e Gaza Strip History Gaza Strip History of Gaza City History of Hamas Khan Yunis massacre Egyptian occupation of the Gaza Strip see also: Israeli occupation of the Sinai Peninsula All-Palestine Protectorate All-Palestine Government Gaza Subdistrict in Mandatory Palestine Gaza District Beersheba Subdistrict Jerusalem Sanjak Gaza Strip under Hamas Gaza Strip under Resolution 2803 Destruction of cultural heritage during the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip Archaeological sites destroyed during the Gaza genocide [ar] Places in Mandatory Palestine Gaza Subdistrict, Mandatory Palestine Territory acquired during Israel's war of independence Al-Majdal Asqalan (Ashkelon § State of Israel) Arab Suqrir Barbara Barqa al-Batani al-Gharbi al-Batani al-Sharqi Bayt 'Affa Bayt Daras Bayt Jirja Bayt Tima Bil'in Burayr Dayr Sunayd Dimra al-Faluja Hamama Hatta Hiribya Huj Hulayqat Ibdis Iraq al-Manshiyya Iraq Suwaydan Isdud al-Jaladiyya al-Jiyya Julis al-Jura Jusayr Karatiyya Kawfakha Kawkaba al-Khisas al-Masmiyya al-Kabira al-Masmiyya al-Saghira al-Muharraqa Najd Ni'ilya Qastina al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya al-Sawafir al-Shamaliyya al-Sawafir al-Sharqiyya Simsim Summil Tall al-Turmus Yasur Refugee camps Al-Shati (Beach camp) Bureij Deir al-Balah Jabalia Khan Yunis Maghazi Nuseirat Rafah Canada Cities Gaza City Streets in Gaza City Ahmad Orabi Street Izz Ad Din Al Qassam Street Al-Jalla Street Jamal Abdel Nasser Street Omar Mukhtar Street Palestine Square Al-Rashid Street Salah al-Din Road Suq Street Unknown Soldier's Square Wehda Street Gaza City Gaza City neighborhoods Judeide Nasser Old City Zaytun Quarter Daraj Quarter Rimal Sabra Al-Saha (As-Saha) Al-Saha al-Shati Camp Al-Shati refugee camp Sheikh Ijlin Sheikh Radwan Shuja'iyya Tuffah Tel al-Hawa Turukman Zeitoun Cities elsewhere in the Gaza Strip Bani Suheila Beit Hanoun Beit Lahiya Deir al-Balah Jabalia Khan Yunis Rafah Governorates of the Gaza Strip North Gaza Gaza Deir al-Balah Khan Yunis Rafah Historic Hamam al-Sammara Qasr al-Basha Qissariya Market Byzantine Gaza synagogue Archaeological sites destroyed during the Gaza genocide [ar] Cemeteries Deir El Belah War Cemetery Gaza War Cemetery Israeli razing of cemeteries and necroviolence against Palestinians Mosques Gaza City: Aybaki Mosque Great Mosque of Gaza (Great Omari Mosque) Ibn Marwan Mosque Ibn Uthman Mosque Katib al-Wilaya Mosque Mahkamah Mosque† Ibrahim al-Maqadma Mosque attack Sayed al-Hashim Mosque Sham'ah Mosque Shaykh Zakariyya Mosque elsewhere: Abu Khadra Mosque Al-Shamah Mosque† Umm al-Nasr Mosque Zofor Domri Mosque Churches Gaza City: Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church Church of Saint Porphyrius airstrike Holy Family Catholic Church Gaza Baptist Church† elsewhere in the Gaza Strip: Institutions Palestinian Legislative Council (destroyed in 2023) Palestinian Centre for Human Rights Al Mezan Center for Human Rights Police and courts Palestinian Civil Police Force (Hamas) Gaza civil police Capital punishment in the Gaza Strip Capital punishment in Palestine Faiq al-Mabhouh Police in the Israel–Hamas war Societal breakdown in the Gaza Strip during the Gaza war Environment Wadi Gaza Environmental impact of the Gaza war Economy Economy of the Gaza Strip Taxation in Palestine Transport and trade Yasser Arafat International Airport Port of Gaza Gaza-Israel barrier Erez crossing Kerem Shalom crossing Egypt-Palestine relations Rafah crossing Blockade of the Gaza Strip Gaza smuggling tunnels Culture and recreation Gaza City Gaza Museum of Archaeology Al-Bustan resort Bisan City tourist village Al Deira Hotel Faisal Equestrian Club Gaza Mall Al-Andalusia mall Palestine Stadium Rashad Shawa Cultural Center Roots Club As-Sadaka Gaza YMCA Gaza Strip Education Education in Gaza UNWRA schools Christian schools Gaza City: Al-Azhar University Islamic University Al-Aqsa University Libraries Deir al-Balah Municipality Public Library [ar] Gaza Municipality Public Library [ar] Khan Yunis Municipality Public Library [ar] Rafah Municipality Public Library [ar] Samir Mansour Library Health care Gaza Ministry of Health Gaza City: Al-Ahli Arab Hospital Al-Aqsa Hospital Al-Rantisi Hospital Al-Shifa Hospital Kamal Adwan Hospital Al-Awda Hospital Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital 2024 Gaza Strip polio epidemic Occupation Gush Katif Israeli unilateral disengagement Israeli occupation 2023 Israeli invasion Morag Corridor Netzarim Corridor Philadelphi Corridor Demographics Palestinian Christians Doghmush clan History of the Jews in Gaza City Israeli settlers Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip Proposed Israeli resettlement of the Gaza Strip LGBT rights in the Gaza Strip Al Haq Al Qaws Deaths 2003 March 16 Rachel Corrie § Death MV Rachel Corrie 2009 January 4 Zeitoun killings 16 Shurrab family 2012 Al-Dalu family (12) 2014 Deif and Al Dalu families (3 + 3) 2018 June 1 Killing of Rouzan al-Najjar 2023 October 7 Abu Qouta family November Bibas family December 15 Samer Abu Daqqa 16 Nahida and Samar Anton 2024 January 29 Hind Rajab and the Hamadeh family (9) July 3 Mohammad Bhar Category:Gaza Strip

Authority control databases WorldCat

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zaytun Quarter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaytun_Quarter) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaytun_Quarter?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.