HISTORY of Gaza: Gaza fell to British forces during World War I, becoming a part of the British Mandate of Palestine.

As a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Egypt administered the newly formed Gaza Strip territory and several improvements were undertaken in the city. Gaza was captured by Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967, but in 1993, the city was transferred to the Palestinian National Authority. Following the 2006 election, conflict broke out as the Fatah party seemed unwilling to transfer power to Hamas, resulting in Hamas taking power in Gaza by force. Egypt and Israel imposed a Blockade of the Gaza Strip following the 2006 Hamas cross-border raid.[5] Israel eased the blockade allowing consumer goods in June 2010, and Egypt reopened the Rafah border crossing in 2011 to pedestrians.

Holy Land between Jews and Arabs, who have battled over it ever since, most recently in this month's deadly Gaza fighting. A Palestinian flag was unfurled in the General Assembly as the victory was pronounced. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned what he called a "venomous" speech by the Palestinian leader. The vote lifts the Palestinian Authority from an observer entity to a "non-member observer state" on par with the Vatican. Palestine has no vote in the General Assembly but can now join UN agencies and potentially the International Criminal Court, where it could ask for a probe of Israeli actions, including during the recent fighting in Gaza. Abbas said he hoped to use the status upgrade as a launchpad for renewed direct talks with Israel frozen for more than two years calling the resolution "the last chance to save the two-state solution." In a 22-minute speech laced with references to Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip this month, Abbas said time for an accord is running out. "The rope of patience is shortening and hope is withering." Afterwards, he said the vote had been "historic." "Tomorrow we begin the real war," Abbas said at a celebration reception. "We have a long road and difficult road ahead of us. I don't want to spoil our victory tonight, but the road ahead is still difficult." The United States and Israel immediately condemned the vote, which US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called "counterproductive."

UN upgrades Palestine's status in landslide vote The UN General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to make Palestine a non-member state, inflicting a major diplomatic defeat on Israel and its main ally, the United States. The victory for president Mahmud Abbas triggered scenes of joy in the occupied West Bank, where thousands celebrated with bursts of gunfire and cheers in the city of Ramallah. Abbas claimed what he called a UN "birth certificate" for a Palestinian state and got the backing of 138 countries in the 193-member assembly. Nine voted against and 41 abstained, while five did not participate. The limited diplomatic upgrade came on the 65th anniversary of the UN partition vote, when the world body first divided the

The United States blocked a Palestinian application for full UN membership made by Abbas in September 2011 at the Security Council. Netanyahu slammed Abbas's address, calling it "defamatory" and "full of mendacious propaganda," according to his office. Israeli UN Ambassador Ron Prosor said recognizing Palestine "will place further obstacles and preconditions to negotiations and peace," and could even lead to further violence. UN leader Ban Ki-moon had earlier warned Abbas that the Middle East peace process is on "life support" and that both Netanyahu and Abbas must take action to revive talks. The Palestinian leader did not make any reference to the possibility of joining the International Criminal Court a major worry for Israel, which fears a possible investigation. But Abbas said: "We will act responsibly and positively in our next steps, and we will work to strengthen cooperation with the countries and peoples of the world for the sake of a just peace." Hamas, the political party elected into power in the Gaza Strip in 2006, welcomed the vote, calling it a "victory." "This is a new victory on the road to the liberation of Palestine and return and we congratulate ourselves," senior Hamas official Ahmed Yussef told AFP. Frances declaration of support for the Palestinian bid Tuesday led the way in Europe as at least 17 European nations voted in favor of the Palestinian resolution, including Austria, France, Italy, Norway and Spain.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said his countrys constant position in favor of recognition of a Palestinian state since the 1980s guided its vote in the General Assembly. French ambassador to the UN Gerard Araud called on Palestine and Israel to work through the resumption of talks "and not through reprisals, which will only play the game of the extremists." The Palestinians still face an uncertain future on the diplomatic stage. Despite their greater access to the UN system, it is unclear whether they will be able to automatically join the ICC. Palestinian envoys have said Abbas will not rush to join the court but could use it as leverage if Israel does not change its policies on settlements and other matters. Washington has warned Abbas he risks losing around $200 million in American aid, which is blocked in the US Congress. The Palestinian Authority and UN agencies that accept Palestinian participation could also lose hundreds of millions of dollars in financing because of the vote.