Gaza was one of the great cities of the Mediterranean—a place where trade and continents met, and where Muslims, Christians and Jews flourished together.

For centuries, Gaza was a crossroads of civilizations, an economic and intellectual powerhouse. It was a strategic bridge connecting land and sea routes through the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Caravans laden with spices, textiles, glass, incense, precious gems from Africa and Asia passed through Gaza’s gates then by sea to Greece and the cities of Europe, or by land along pilgrimage routes of Cairo, Damascus, Jerusalem, and Mecca.