Gaza has been a part of the Land of Israel since biblical times. The borders of Israel, as defined in God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:18-21, stretch from the Euphrates River in the east to the “River of Egypt” in the west, which refers to either the Nile or the Wadi el-Arish, both of which are west of Gaza — meaning that the borders of the Land of Israel clearly include all of Gaza. In Joshua 15:47, God specifies the areas that are the inheritance of the tribe of Judah — including “Gaza [Azza, in Hebrew] with its towns and villages.” In Judges 1:18, “Gaza with its border” is listed as part of the territory of Judah. In Kings I, 5:4, Gaza is mentioned by name as one of the areas ruled by King Solomon