Non-Muslim Population in the Gaza Sanjak in the Sixteenth Century

Abstract

The Gaza region, which came under Ottoman rule following the victory of Yavuz Sultan Selim at the Battle of Marj Dabiq in 1516, was administered by the Ottoman Empire for four centuries. The census books from the first century of this long period contain a wealth of information about the Gaza Sanjak and the people living around it. Based on these books, it is possible to make some observations and evaluations about the people of the region, especially the minorities. In the sixteenth century, the first century of Ottoman rule, Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived in various parts of the Gaza Sanjak. This state is notable for being a place where three religions coexist. This feature was not only preserved in the sixteenth century but also in the following periods. Christians constituted the second-largest demographic group, with Muslims forming the majority of the population. Jews were the third and last group in demographic terms. Muslims, like Christians, adopted a settled life both in urban and rural areas. Jews generally continued to reside in the city center. It is evident that the Christian population, which constituted the majority of the non-Muslim population, was sustained by the immigration of the local population in the sanjak and also received immigration from Jerusalem and Egypt. It was also divided into various and often sect-based sub-communities. The sectarian divisions of the Jews, who continued their existence in Gaza city center as two sub-communities, Samaritans and Rabbanites, were reflected in the records. This article will present a general evaluation of the Christians and Jews living in Gaza in the first century of Ottoman rule by consulting other archive sources, especially the detailed cadastral registers. In this article, we will endeavor to provide a historical perspective on the Palestine/Gaza issue, which is one of the most contentious issues in the contemporary world. © 2024, Muhammed Mustafa KULU. All rights reserved.