II.

Land and Resources

The Gaza Strip is a narrow territory extending from the northern Sinai Peninsula into Israel’s Mediterranean coastal plain. The region is largely flat and sandy, with dunes stretching inland from the coast, particularly in the south. Rainfall diminishes from north to south, with an average annual accumulation of about 150 to 400 mm (about 6 to 16 in). The Gaza Strip contains little fertile soil, and only 13 percent of its land is arable. There are a number of sandy beaches and fishing villages along the region's coastline.