Al-Qarara is a town in the Gaza Strip that was leveled to the ground

One of the agricultural towns in Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip, it came under Israeli occupation following the June 1967 war, and was surrounded by occupation forces with a series of settlements and military sites until they withdrew from it in 2005.

During the "Iron Swords" aggression launched by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, the town experienced one of the most violent waves of destruction, as the occupation displaced its residents and committed several massacres against them, in addition to destroying their homes and properties and razing vast areas of their agricultural lands and trees.

The town witnessed repeated clashes and battles between the occupation forces and fighters from Palestinian resistance factions, resulting in the deaths and injuries of several Israeli soldiers and officers.

The location of Al-Qarara town is north of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip, and it is one of the most historically known towns in the city, bordered to the northwest by the city of Deir al-Balah, and to the southeast by the towns of Bani Suheila and Abasan al-Jadida, while the Mediterranean Sea coast forms its western border, and the Green Line borders it to the east and northeast.

The town is approximately 86 meters above sea level, making it the highest location in the Gaza Strip. Salah al-Din Street divides it into two halves.

The area of Al-Qarara town is estimated to be about 11,777 dunams (one dunam equals one thousand square meters).

Al-Qarara town features a Mediterranean desert climate, similar to the other towns in Khan Younis city, and serves as a western window to the Negev Desert, making it significantly affected by desert currents at various times of the year.

In winter, cold and dry eastern and southeastern winds blow over the town, while in summer, the winds are characterized as dry northeastern.

The population of Al-Qarara town is estimated to be around 35,000, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics estimates for 2024.

The town is home to a number of well-known Palestinian families in the region, including the Samiri, Mahna, Abu al-Fita, Shahada, Fayyad, Abu Hajjaj, Al-Zar Khshan, Abu Halib, Abu Eid, Al-Amawi, Abu Sabt, Al-Abadla, Abu Lahya, and Al-Agha families.

Al-Qarara was named after the fertility of its soil, as the word means stable and firm land, and it also refers to a low garden and a round basin where rainwater collects.

Its residents are referred to as Al-Qarari. The town is also known as "Hill 86," due to its height of 86 meters above sea level, making it the highest area in the Gaza Strip; thus, during the Egyptian administration of the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian army made the area its headquarters.

Agricultural activity forms the backbone of the local economy in Al-Qarara, thanks to the fertility of its agricultural lands.

The town is home to a variety of crops, including citrus fruits, vegetables, almonds, grapes, palm trees, pomegranates, and olives.

The location overlooking the Mediterranean Sea has also led some residents to pursue fishing as a profession.

Animal production is also one of the important economic sources, as the town's residents raise rabbits, sheep, goats, chickens, and birds to meet local market needs.

The history of Al-Qarara town dates back to ancient times, as it was known in the past as "Samiri al-Sab'."

Its history goes back to the Roman era in Palestine in 63 BC, then it came under Byzantine rule in 324 AD, before the Islamic conquest in the seventh century AD.

The town played a prominent role in resisting the occupiers, as its residents participated in resisting the British Mandate authorities between 1917 and 1948.

It gained strategic and military importance during the Nakba of 1948, as its people confronted Zionist gangs that attempted to control Salah al-Din Road, which divides the town in half.

During the June 1967 setback, Israel occupied the entire town and surrounded it with settlements, including Gush Katif and several military sites.

The residents suffered tragic conditions, especially with the presence of the "Kissufim" military site, which served as an incursion gate for the occupation towards the towns east of Khan Younis and the central governorate.

The first village council for Al-Qarara was established in 1983