A history of Jewish encounters with the ancient city of Gaza
"Gaza's thousands of years of history have been shaped as much by religious beliefs, desires and passions as by rational imperial interests" -Tom Segev
Since the days of Samson, Gaza has stood at the crossroads of faith, myth and conflict. In Gaza and the Jews, eminent Israeli historian Tom Segev traces the long and complex history of Jewish encounters with this ancient city – from the prophets and rebels of antiquity and the messianic visions of Nathan of Gaza and Shabtai Zvi to the founding of Israel in 1948 and the recent devastating war.
Along the way, Segev reveals stories of the little-known Jewish communities and figures who lived in Gaza from the second century BCE until Israel's withdrawal from the city in 2006. And he explores how this history created mythologies, memories and outlooks that continue to resonate today.
