The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2025 Middle East
Military and security forces Gaza Strip, in 36 editions.
The entry for Gaza Strip published Military and security forces in 36 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2025. The text changed in 16 editions. Each is shown as published. Military and security forces in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 16
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Branches” (1990 to 1996), “Military branches” (1997 to 2018) and “Military and security forces” (2019 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Changed since 2024The same text in 7 editions, 1990 to 1996.
Published as “Branches”
NA
NA
The same text in 5 editions, 1997 to 2001.
Published as “Military branches”
NA
NA
The same text in 3 editions, 2002 to 2004.
Published as “Military branches”
- in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces;
- there are, however, a Public Security Force and a civil Police Force
NA in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, a Public Security Force and a civil Police Force
The same text in 2005 and 2006.
Published as “Military branches”
- in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces;
- there are, however, public security forces (2002)
in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, a Public Security Force and a civil Police Force public security forces (2002)
Published as “Military branches”
- in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces;
- there are, however, public security forces (2007)
in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, public security forces (2002) (2007)
Published as “Military branches”
- in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces;
- there are, however, public security forces (2008)
in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, public security forces (2007) (2008)
Published as “Military branches”
- Palestinian Authority security forces have operated only in the West Bank, not in the Gaza Strip, since Hamas seized power in June 2007;
- law and order and other security functions are performed by Hamas security organizations (2008)
Rewritten: too little of the 2008 text remains to mark the changes.
Palestinian Authority security forces have operated only in the West Bank, not in the Gaza Strip, since Hamas seized power in June 2007; law and order and other security functions are performed by Hamas security organizations (2008)
The same text in 3 editions, 2010 to 2012.
Published as “Military branches”
- Palestinian Authority security forces have operated only in the West Bank, not in the Gaza Strip, since HAMAS seized power in June 2007;
- law and order and other security functions are performed by HAMAS security organizations (2008)
Palestinian Authority security forces have operated only in the West Bank, not in the Gaza Strip, since Hamas HAMAS seized power in June 2007; law and order and other security functions are performed by Hamas HAMAS security organizations (2008)
The same text in 2013 and 2014.
Published as “Military branches”
- Hamas does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip, but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades;
- the military wing reports to the external Hamas Political Bureau leadership, which has been in exile in Cairo and Doha since closing its Damascus headquarters in late 2011 (2013)
Rewritten: too little of the 2012 text remains to mark the changes.
Hamas does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip, but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing reports to the external Hamas Political Bureau leadership, which has been in exile in Cairo and Doha since closing its Damascus headquarters in late 2011 (2013)
The same text in 3 editions, 2015 to 2017.
Published as “Military branches”
- HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades;
- the military wing reports to the Hamas Political Bureau leadership, which remains scattered throughout the region since relocating from its Damascus headquarters in early 2012 (2015)
Hamas HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip, Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing reports to the external Hamas Political Bureau leadership, which has been in exile in Cairo and Doha remains scattered throughout the region since closing relocating from its Damascus headquarters in late 2011 (2013) early 2012 (2015)
Published as “Military branches”
- HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades;
- the military wing reports to the Hamas Political Bureau leadership (2018)
HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing reports to the Hamas Political Bureau leadership, which remains scattered throughout the region since relocating from its Damascus headquarters in early 2012 (2015) leadership (2018)
- HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades;
- the military wing reports to the Hamas Political Bureau leadership;
- there are several other militant groups operating in Gaza, most notably the al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, that are usually but not always beholden to Hamas’ authority (2019)
HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing reports to the Hamas Political Bureau leadership (2018) leadership; there are several other militant groups operating in Gaza, most notably the al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, that are usually but not always beholden to Hamas’ authority (2019)
- HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades;
- the military wing reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau leadership;
- there are several other militant groups operating in Gaza, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestine Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2019)
HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing reports to the Hamas HAMAS Political Bureau leadership; there are several other militant groups operating in Gaza, most notably the al-Quds Al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Palestine Islamic Jihad, that which are usually but not always beholden to Hamas’ HAMAS's authority (2019)
- HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades;
- the military wing reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau;
- there are several other militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestine Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2021)
HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau leadership; Bureau; there are several other militant groups operating in Gaza, the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestine Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2019) (2021)
- HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades;
- the military wing reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau;
- there are several other militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestine Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2022)
HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau; there are several other militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestine Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2021) (2022)
- HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades;
- the military wing reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau;
- there are several other militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestine Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2023)
HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau; there are several other militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestine Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2022) (2023)
- HAMAS maintains security forces inside Gaza in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades;
- the military wing ostensibly reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau but operates with considerable autonomy;
- there are several other militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2024)
HAMAS does not have a conventional military in the Gaza Strip but maintains security forces inside Gaza in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing ostensibly reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau; Bureau but operates with considerable autonomy; there are several other militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestine Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2023) (2024)
- HAMAS maintains security forces inside Gaza in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades;
- the military wing ostensibly reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau but operates with considerable autonomy;
- there are several other militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2025)
note: HAMAS is a US designated Foreign Terrorist Organization; see Terrorist Organizations under References
HAMAS maintains security forces inside Gaza in addition to its military wing, the 'Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades; the military wing ostensibly reports to the HAMAS Political Bureau but operates with considerable autonomy; there are several other militant groups operating in the Gaza Strip, most notably the Al-Quds Brigades of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are usually but not always beholden to HAMAS's authority (2024) (2025)
note: HAMAS is a US designated Foreign Terrorist Organization; see Terrorist Organizations under References
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Gaza Strip: Military and security forces.” The World Factbook, 1990–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/gaza-strip/military-and-security-forces.