Beit Lahia: Gaza’s “Red Gold” City Reduced to Ashes by War and Occupation
Once known for its strawberries, ancient heritage, and fertile lands, Beit Lahia is now a ghost town ravaged by Israeli military operations and systematic destruction.
Watan-Located in the far northwest of Gaza, Beit Lahia was once one of the most beautiful rural and agricultural towns in the region, famed for its strawberry farms—earning it the name “City of Red Gold.” The city also housed ancient relics like Roman cemeteries and Byzantine churches, attracting both Arab and international visitors.
Before the war, the city spanned 38,000 dunams but now shrunk to 24,000 due to Israeli annexations. Since October 2023, Israeli forces have completely destroyed Beit Lahia—its buildings, water wells, farmlands, and ancient landmarks.
Historically inhabited by Romans, Canaanites, and Muslims, Beit Lahia was the second-largest city in southern Palestine in terms of mosques and properties before the 1948 Nakba. After partial Israeli withdrawal in 2005, the city was revived by locals and became Gaza’s primary agricultural hub.
Beit Lahia’s Red Gold Buried Beneath Rubble and Ruin
However, systematic destruction through bombardment and land razing has reduced it to rubble. Israel’s pretext of establishing a “security belt” is seen as a move to seize the city’s remaining natural wealth.
Archaeologists highlight that Beit Lahia is home to invaluable Roman-era cemeteries and Byzantine churches, many of which have been obliterated in recent bombings.
Despite this, local farmers had once reclaimed and re-cultivated lands. But today, many consider migration after losing everything—tractors, land, and even family members.
The city’s last remaining hope—its famed strawberry farms—has also been targeted. Farmers like Atef Agha recall how Beit Lahia used to produce 17 tons of high-quality strawberries annually for export. Now, this dream lies buried under the city’s ashes.
