Tuffah (Arabic: التفاح, literally: "the Apple") is one of four quarters of the Old City of Gaza,[1] located in the northeast, and is divided into eastern and western halves.[2] Prior to its expansion and the demolition of the Old City's walls, Tuffah was one of the three walled quarters of Gaza, the other two being al-Daraj and Zeitoun.[3] The local pronunciation of the district's name is at-tuffen.[4]
Tuffah
التفاح | |
|---|---|
Neighborhood | |
| At-Tuffah | |
  Tuffah Location in Gaza Strip | |
| Coordinates: 31°30′57.19″N 34°28′9.49″E / 31.5158861°N 34.4693028°E | |
| Country |  Palestine |
| Governorate | Gaza Governorate |
| City | Gaza |
| Time zone | UTC 2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | 3 |
Tuffah has existed since early Mamluk rule in Gaza in the 13th century. The southern part of Tuffah was called "ad-Dabbaghah". According to Ottoman tax records in the late 16th century, it was a small neighborhood containing 57 households. The ad-Dabbaghah neighborhood contained Gaza's slaughterhouse and tanners' facilities during the Ottoman era (1517-1917). The northern subdivision of Tuffah was called "Bani Amir."[4]
The 14th-century Ibn Marwan Mosque is located in the district as is the 13th-century Aybaki Mosque.[5] Home to the British War Cemetery, Tuffah also contains a public library and a number of Palestinian Red Crescent-run schools.[6]
the neighborhood was subjected to heavy Israeli artillery fire and airstrikes; multiple Palestinian journalists were also killed in targeted airstrikes in the area.[7][8] The quarter's residents were subject to forced displacement by the Israeli military in August 2024.[9]
The Israeli Air Force bombed at least two schools in the neighborhood.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Butt, 1995, p.9.
- ^ Sheehan, 1999, pp. 428-429.
- ^ Sharon, Moshe (2009). "Gaza". Corpus Inscriptionum Arabicarum Palaestinae. Vol. 4. BRILL. pp. 28–30. ISBN 978-90-04-17085-8.
The old city of Gaza, where all the remnants of the ancient, medieval and early Ottoman city are found, is divided into four quarters, a few of which are subdivided. Three of these quarters (at-Tuffäh, ad-Daraj, and az-Zaytun) were within the walls of the ancient city. The southeastern quarter, as-Saja'iyyah, developed later than the others, mainly outside these walls… The four quarters of the city are as follows: in the northeast (generally, north): Hãrat (or Hayy) at-Tuffäh (the "Apple Quarter")… The Southern part of this quarter is called ad-Dabbäghah (not as-Sabbäghah) the tanners' neighbourhood situated in the area of the slaughter house during the Ottoman period…
- ^ a b Sharon, 2009, p. 29
- ^ Shahin, p. 438.
- ^ Education in Gaza Department of Political Science, McGill University.
- ^ "Israeli strikes on Gaza schools kill 15 amid renewed evacuation orders". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "Three Palestinian Journalists Killed in 24 Hours - Massacre in Al-Tuffah". Palestine Chronicle. 2024-11-09. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "Thousands of Palestinians flee fighting in Gaza City, mediators push for truce deal". France 24. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
- ^ "At least 15 killed in Israeli airstrikes on 2 schools sheltering displaced Gazans". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
Bibliography
edit- Butt, Gerald (1995). Life at the Crossroads: A History of Gaza. Rimal Publications. ISBN 1-900269-03-1.
- Sharon, M. (2009). Corpus Inscriptionum Arabicarum Palaestinae, G. Vol. 4. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-17085-8.
- Shahin, Mariam (2005). Palestine: A Guide. Interlink Books. ISBN 1-56656-557-X.
- Sheehan, Sean (2000). Israel Handbook: With the Palestinian Authority Areas. Footprint Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-900949-48-4.
External links
edit- SWP map 19, IAA
- SWP map 19, Wikimedia commons
