Gush Katif

Situated along the Gaza strip's southern coast, Gush Katif ("Katif Bloc") is a bloc of predominantly religious Jewish settlements that are home to some 8,000 Israelis, who work primarily in agriculture.

צעדת מחאה בגוש קטיף (צילום: איי אף פי)

Jewish settlement in Gush Katif began in 1970, three years after Israel gained control of Gaza from Egypt during the Six-Day War, and increased after the right-wing Likud party came to power for the first time in 1977.

The settlements, which have been the target of numerous terror attacks over the years, are set to be evacuated as part of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan.