Deir al-Balah

Dair al - Balah (Arabic دير البلح, Dayr al - Balah DMG ) is a Palestinian city in the Deir al Balah - government in the Gaza Strip. It is located 19 kilometers south-west of Gaza City and 1.5 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast. In the city, the administration of the Gaza Strip, the central region is located. The city had 2006 49.751 inhabitants, since 2005, Hamas holds 13 of the 15 seats in the city parliament and thus also the mayor, Ahmad Kurd.

The city was often target of Israeli military operations, most recently in Operation Cast Lead on the grounds that it was based on firings of Qassam rockets against Israel since 2001.

In UNRWA refugee camp Dair al - Balah 20,215 people live.