@Gaza Strip
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The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993,
provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of
Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996.

Map
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Location: 31 25 N, 34 20 E -- Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel

Geography
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Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Israel

Geographic coordinates: 31 25 N, 34 20 E

Map references: Middle East

Area:
total area: 360 sq km
land area: 360 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

Coastline: 40 km

Maritime claims: Israeli occupied with current status subject to
the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation

International disputes: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli
occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian
Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through
further negotiation

Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Terrain: flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m

Natural resources: NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 32%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 55%

Irrigated land: 115 sq km (1992 est.)

Environment:
current issues: desertification
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: there are 24 Israeli settlements and civilian
land use sites in the Gaza Strip (August 1995 est.)

People
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Population: 923,940 (July 1996 est.)
note: in addition, there are 5,000 Israeli settlers in the Gaza
Strip (August 1995 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 52% (male 244,026; female 231,976)
15-64 years: 46% (male 210,706; female 210,764)
65 years and over: 2% (male 11,553; female 14,915) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 6.79% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 50.67 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.4 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 21.65 migrant(s)/1,000