Did Wikipedia remove the word "resistance" from the History of Gaza article?

Yes. "resistance" appeared 1 times in this article's opening at its peak. Today the opening has none; the body has 1. We saved the article's opening paragraph at 5 moments between 2010 and 2025, and the counts come from those saved copies.

When did the History of Gaza article stop using the word "resistance"?

The word appeared 1 times in the opening at its peak in 2010. It is absent from today's opening, the part search engines quote and AI systems train on, checked against the live article on 2026-08-02.

How can I verify what Wikipedia's History of Gaza article used to say?

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History of Gaza

The word “resistance” appeared 1 times in this article's opening at its peak in 2010. Today the opening carries none. 1 remains further down the article, where a reader arriving from a search result does not go.

Measured, not asserted. Every count, date and revision on this page was taken from Wikipedia's own history and checked against the live article. The words quoted are theirs.

Machine-checked against the full current article on 2026-08-02. “resistance” appeared 1 times in this article's opening at its peak. Today the opening has none; the body has 1.

We saved snapshots of this article over twenty years; you are reading the 2010 one. Red dashes: removed from Wikipedia since. Pale dots: rewritten; the numbered note shows what it says now. ¹ tap a number or a side note to jump between them

The opening as it read in 2010

Gaza in 2007 The known history of Gaza spans 4,000 years.¹ Gaza was ruled, destroyed and repopulated by various dynasties, empires, and peoples. Originally a Canaanite settlement, it came under the control of the ancient Egyptians for roughly 350 years before being conquered by the Philistines , who made it one of the principal cities of their pentapolis in the 12th century BCE.² Gaza fell to the Israelite King David in about 1000 BCE and with the fall of the Kingdom of Israel in about 730 BCE, it became part of the Assyrian empire , and subsequently, that of the Persian Achaemenid Empire . Alexander the Great besieged the city for five months before finally capturing it in 332 BCE.³ Most of the inhabitants were killed during the assault, and the city, which became a center for Hellenistic learning and philosophy, was resettled by nearby Bedouin Arabs . The area changed hands regularly between two Greek successor-kingdoms, the Seleucids of Syria and the Ptolemies of Egypt. The city was besieged and taken by the Hasmoneans in 96 BCE.⁴ After its incorporation into the Roman Empire in 63 BCE, Gaza was rebuilt under the command of Pompey Magnus , and granted to Herod the Great thirty years later.⁵ Throughout the Roman period, Gaza maintained its prosperity, receiving grants from several different emperors. A 500-member senate governed the city, and a diverse array of Philistines, Greeks , Romans, Canaanites, Phoenicians , Jews , Egyptians , Persians and Arabs populated the city. On the breakup of the Roman Empire, Gaza became part of the Byzantine Empire .⁶ Conversion to Christianity in the city was spearheaded and completed under Saint Porphyrius , who destroyed its eight pagan temples between 396 and 420 CE. Gaza was the first city in Palestine to be conquered by the Arab Rashidun Caliphate in 635 CE.⁷ The arrival of the Muslim rulers brought drastic changes, as its churches were transformed into mosques , the population swiftly adopted Islam as their religion, and Arabic became the official language.⁸ Under the Arab Muslims , the city went through periods of prosperity and decline.⁹ The Crusaders wrested control of Gaza from the Fatimids in 1100, and ruled until 1187, when the city was conquered by Saladin and the Ayyubids .¹⁰ Gaza was in Mamluk hands by the late 13th century, and became the capital of a province that stretched from the Sinai Peninsula to Caesarea .¹¹ By the time of its incorporation into the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, it was but a small village. The Ottomans charged the Ridwan family with governance over the city in the early 16th century. In 1660, under Husayn Pasha, Gaza went through another "golden age" and was proclaimed the capital of Palestine. From the early 1800s, Gaza was culturally dominated by neighboring Egypt and Muhammad Ali of Egypt conquered it in 1832. His brief rule ended in 1840, after the Ottomans defeated his forces outside the city. In 1917, the forces of the Triple Entente captured the city after a third battle against the Ottoman forces there. The 20th century began in Gaza with two destructive earthquakes in 1903 and 1914. The city also expanded in the first half of the 20th century under the British Mandate in Palestine , and as part of the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan , Gaza was assigned to the Arab state.¹² The population of the city and the Gaza Strip swelled as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War .¹³ After the war, it was held and administered by Egypt , until the 1967 Six-Day War when it was occupied by Israel .¹⁴ Gaza was a center of political resistance in the First Intifada , and under the Oslo Accords of 1993, it was assigned to be under the direct control of the newly-established Palestinian National Authority . In 2007, Hamas emerged as the victor in Palestinian factional fighting with Fatah in the city and in the wider Gaza Strip and has since been the sole governing authority there.¹⁵ Israel has blockaded the Strip ever since and launched an assault in 2008–2009, which it characterized as a response to Qassam rocket attacks. The bombardment and ground assault reportedly left over 1,300 people dead in the territory, and destroyed over 4,000 buildings.¹⁶

This is Wikipedia's own text, saved in our repository. Their copy of it is revision 369448095.

The opening as it stood in 2015 16 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear

Gaza in 2007 The known history of Gaza spans 4,000 years. Gaza was ruled, destroyed and repopulated by various dynasties, empires, and peoples. Originally a Canaanite settlement, it came under the control of the ancient Egyptians for roughly 350 years before being conquered and becoming one of the Philistines ' principal cities. Gaza fell to the Israelites in about 1000 BCE and later became part of the Assyrian Empire . Alexander the Great besieged and captured the city in 332 BCE. Most of the inhabitants were killed during the assault, and the city, which became a center for Hellenistic learning and philosophy, was resettled by nearby Bedouins . The area changed hands regularly between two Greek successor-kingdoms, the Seleucids of Syria and the Ptolemies of Egypt until it was besieged and taken by the Hasmoneans in 96 BCE. Gaza was rebuilt by Roman Emperor Pompey Magnus , and granted to Herod the Great thirty years later. Throughout the Roman period, Gaza maintained its prosperity, receiving grants from several different emperors. A 500-member senate governed the city, which had a diverse population of Greeks , Romans, Jews , Egyptians , Persians and Nabateans . Conversion to Christianity in the city was spearheaded and completed under Saint Porphyrius , who destroyed its eight pagan temples between 396 and 420 CE. Gaza was the first city in Palestine to be conquered by the Muslim general Amr ibn al-'As in 634 CE. During early Muslim rule, most Gazans adopted Islam as their religion, and the city went through periods of prosperity and decline. The Crusaders wrested control of Gaza from the Fatimids in 1100, but were driven out by Saladin . Gaza was in Mamluk hands by the late 13th-century, and became the capital of a province that stretched from the Sinai Peninsula to Caesarea . It witnessed a golden age under the Ottoman -appointed Ridwan family in the 16th century. Gaza experienced destructive earthquakes in 1903 and 1914. In 1917, British forces captured the city during World War I . Gaza grew significantly in the first half of the 20th-century under Mandatory rule . The population of the city swelled as a result of the Palestinian exodus during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War . Gaza came under Egyptian rule until it was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six Day War . Gaza became a center of political resistance during the First Intifada , and under the Oslo Accords of 1993, it was assigned to be under the direct control of the newly established Palestinian Authority . Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005. In 2007, Hamas emerged as the victor in Palestinian factional fighting with Fatah in the city and in the wider Gaza Strip and has since been the sole governing authority . Israel has blockaded the Strip since then and has launched assaults against it in 2008–2009 , 2012 and 2014 , which it characterized as a response to rocket attacks.

Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 669250701.

The opening as it stood in 2020

The Old Town of Gaza (1862-1863). Picture by Frances Frith The known history of Gaza spans 4,000 years. Gaza was ruled, destroyed and repopulated by various dynasties, empires, and peoples. Originally a Canaanite settlement, it came under the control of the ancient Egyptians for roughly 350 years before being conquered and becoming one of the Philistines ' principal cities. Gaza fell to the Israelites in about 1000 BCE but became part of the Assyrian Empire around 730 BCE. Alexander the Great besieged and captured the city in 332 BCE. Most of the inhabitants were killed during the assault, and the city, which became a center for Hellenistic learning and philosophy, was resettled by nearby Bedouins . The area changed hands regularly between two Greek successor-kingdoms, the Seleucids of Syria and the Ptolemies of Egypt, until it was besieged and taken by the Hasmoneans in 96 BCE. Gaza was rebuilt by Roman General Pompey Magnus , and granted to Herod the Great thirty years later. Throughout the Roman period, Gaza maintained its prosperity, receiving grants from several different emperors. A 500-member senate governed the city, which had a diverse population of Greeks, Romans, Jews, Egyptians , Persians and Nabateans . Conversion to Christianity in the city was spearheaded and completed under Saint Porphyrius , who destroyed its eight pagan temples between 396 and 420 CE. Gaza was conquered by the Muslim general Amr ibn al-'As in 637 CE, and most Gazans adopted Islam during early Muslim rule. Thereafter, the city went through periods of prosperity and decline. The Crusaders wrested control of Gaza from the Fatimids in 1100, but were driven out by Saladin . Gaza was in Mamluk hands by the late 13th century, and became the capital of a province that stretched from the Sinai Peninsula to Caesarea . It witnessed a golden age under the Ottoman -appointed Ridwan dynasty in the 16th century. Gaza experienced destructive earthquakes in 1903 and 1914. In 1917, during World War I, British forces captured the city. Gaza grew significantly in the first half of the 20th century under Mandatory rule . The population of the city swelled as a result of the Palestinian exodus during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . Gaza came under Egyptian rule until it was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War . Gaza became a center of political activism during the First Intifada , and under the Oslo Accords of 1993, it was assigned to be under the direct control of the newly established Palestinian Authority . Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005. By 2007, Hamas emerged both as the victor in Palestinian elections and in factional fighting with rival Fatah in the city and in the wider Gaza Strip and has since been the sole governing authority . Israel subsequently blockaded the Strip and launched assaults against it in 2008–2009 , 2012 and 2014 , as a response to rocket attacks.

Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 949115068.

The opening as it stood on October 6, 2023

Aspect of history This article is about the history of Gaza City. The Old Town of Gaza (1862–1863). Picture by Frances Frith The known history of Gaza spans 4,000 years. Gaza was ruled, destroyed and repopulated by various dynasties, empires, and peoples. Originally a Canaanite settlement, it came under the control of the ancient Egyptians for roughly 350 years before being conquered and becoming one of the Philistines ' principal cities. Gaza became part of the Assyrian Empire around 730 BCE. Alexander the Great besieged and captured the city in 332 BCE. Most of the inhabitants were killed during the assault, and the city, which became a center for Hellenistic learning and philosophy, was resettled by nearby Bedouins . The area changed hands regularly between two Greek successor-kingdoms, the Seleucids of Syria and the Ptolemies of Egypt, until it was besieged and taken by the Hasmoneans in 96 BCE. Gaza was rebuilt by Roman General Pompey Magnus , and granted to Herod the Great thirty years later. Throughout the Roman period, Gaza maintained its prosperity, receiving grants from several different emperors. A 500-member senate governed the city, which had a diverse population of Greeks, Romans, Jews, Egyptians , Persians and Nabateans . Conversion to Christianity in the city was spearheaded and completed under Saint Porphyrius , who destroyed its eight pagan temples between 396 and 420 CE. Gaza was conquered by the Muslim general Amr ibn al-'As in 637 CE, and most Gazans adopted Islam during early Muslim rule. Thereafter, the city went through periods of prosperity and decline. The Crusaders wrested control of Gaza from the Fatimids in 1100, but were driven out by Saladin . Gaza was in Mamluk hands by the late 13th century, and became the capital of a province that stretched from the Sinai Peninsula to Caesarea . It witnessed a golden age under the Ottoman -appointed Ridwan dynasty in the 16th century. Gaza experienced destructive earthquakes in 1903 and 1914. In 1917, during World War I, British forces captured the city. Gaza grew significantly in the first half of the 20th century under Mandatory rule . The population of the city swelled as a result of the Palestinian exodus during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . Gaza came under Egyptian rule until it was occupied by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War . Gaza became a center of political activism during the First Intifada , and under the Oslo Accords of 1993, it was assigned to be under the direct control of the newly established Palestinian Authority . Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005. By 2007, Hamas emerged both as the victor in Palestinian elections and in factional fighting with rival Fatah in the city and in the wider Gaza Strip and has since been the sole governing authority . Israel subsequently blockaded the Strip and launched assaults against it in 2008–2009 , 2012 and 2014 , as a response to rocket attacks.

Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1178954407.

The opening as it stood in 2025 7 passages from the previous snapshot no longer appear

The Old Town of Gaza (1862–1863). Picture by Francis Frith The known history of Gaza City spans 4,000 years. Gaza was ruled, destroyed and repopulated by various dynasties, empires, and peoples. Originally a Canaanite settlement, it came under the control of the ancient Egyptians for roughly 350 years before being conquered and becoming one of the Philistines ' principal cities. Gaza became part of the Assyrian Empire around 730 BC. Alexander the Great besieged and captured the city in 332 BC. Most of the inhabitants were killed during the assault, and the city, which became a center for Hellenistic learning and philosophy, was resettled by nearby Bedouins . The area changed hands regularly between two Greek successor-kingdoms, the Seleucids of Syria and the Ptolemies of Egypt, until it was besieged and taken by the Hasmoneans in 96 BC. Gaza was rebuilt by Roman General Pompey Magnus , and granted to Herod the Great thirty years later. Throughout the Roman period, Gaza maintained its prosperity, receiving grants from several different emperors. A diverse, 500-member senate governed the city during this time. Conversion to Christianity in the city was spearheaded and completed under Saint Porphyrius , who destroyed its eight pagan temples between 396 and 420 AD. Gaza was conquered by the Muslim general Amr ibn al-'As in 637 AD and most Gazans adopted Islam during early Muslim rule. Thereafter, the city went through periods of prosperity and decline. The Crusaders wrested control of Gaza from the Fatimids in 1100, but were driven out by Saladin . Gaza was in Mamluk hands by the late 13th century, and became a regional capitol. It witnessed a golden age under the Ottoman -appointed Ridwan dynasty in the 16th century. Gaza experienced destructive earthquakes in 1903 and 1914. In 1917, during World War I, British forces captured the city. Gaza grew significantly in the first half of the 20th century under Mandatory rule . The population of the city swelled as a result of the Palestinian exodus during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . Gaza became a center of confrontation during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict , being occupied by Israel for decades. The city was largely destroyed and depopulated following the Gaza war .

Red text was written in or rewritten since the previous snapshot. Their copy is revision 1296724256. This is our newest snapshot; the live article may have moved again since.

Today

“resistance” appeared 1 times in this article's opening at its peak. Today the opening has none; the body has 1. Read the current article and compare.

Counts in the opening at each snapshot. Green: the word gained ground. Red: it was cut. Grey: no change.
	2010	2015	2020	Oct '23	2025

Sections that no longer exist

Present on 6 October 2023, absent today. A heading can vanish because the section was deleted or because it was renamed or merged, and we have not separated those here, so treat this as a list of what to check rather than a verdict.

Ancient period 3,651 characters
Roman empire 6,134 characters
Rashidun rule 2,316 characters
Arab dynasties 1,979 characters
Crusader and Ayyubid rule 2,065 characters
Mamluk rule 4,401 characters
British rule 662 characters
Hamas administration 1,731 characters

1. Removed: “Gaza in 2007 The known history of Gaza spans 4,000 years.” In the article until October 6, 2023 (rev), gone by 2025 (rev).

2. Rewrote: “Originally a Canaanite settlement, it came under the control of the ancient…” Changed after our 2025 snapshot. Now reads: “Originally a Canaanite settlement, it came under the control of the ancient Egyptians for roughly 350 years before being conquered and becoming…”

3. Removed 2 sentences: “Gaza fell to the Israelite King David in about 1000 BCE and…” In the article until 2010 (rev), gone by 2015 (rev).

4. Rewrote: “The city was besieged and taken by the Hasmoneans in 96 BCE.” Changed after our 2025 snapshot.

5. Removed: “After its incorporation into the Roman Empire in 63 BCE, Gaza was…” In the article until 2010 (rev), gone by 2015 (rev).

6. Removed 2 sentences: “A 500-member senate governed the city, and a diverse array of Philistines,…” In the article until 2010 (rev), gone by 2015 (rev).

7. Removed: “Gaza was the first city in Palestine to be conquered by the…” In the article until 2015 (rev), gone by 2020 (rev).

8. Removed: “The arrival of the Muslim rulers brought drastic changes, as its churches…” In the article until 2010 (rev), gone by 2015 (rev).

9. Rewrote: “Under the Arab Muslims , the city went through periods of prosperity…” Changed after our 2025 snapshot. Now reads: “Thereafter, the city went through periods of prosperity and decline.”

10. Rewrote: “The Crusaders wrested control of Gaza from the Fatimids in 1100, and…” In the article until 2010 (rev), changed by 2015 (rev). Now reads: “The Crusaders wrested control of Gaza from the Fatimids in 1100, but were driven out by Saladin .”

11. Rewrote: “Gaza was in Mamluk hands by the late 13th century, and became…” Changed after our 2025 snapshot. Now reads: “Gaza was in Mamluk hands by the late 13th century, and became a regional capitol.”

12. Removed 8 sentences: “By the time of its incorporation into the Ottoman Empire in the…” In the article until 2010 (rev), gone by 2015 (rev).

13. Rewrote: “The population of the city and the Gaza Strip swelled as a…” Changed after our 2025 snapshot. Now reads: “The population of the city swelled as a result of the Palestinian exodus during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War .”

14. Removed: “After the war, it was held and administered by Egypt , until…” In the article until 2010 (rev), gone by 2015 (rev).

15. Removed 2 sentences: “Gaza was a center of political resistance in the First Intifada ,…” In the article until October 6, 2023 (rev), gone by 2025 (rev).

16. Removed 2 sentences: “Israel has blockaded the Strip ever since and launched an assault in…” In the article until 2010 (rev), gone by 2015 (rev).

Struck red text is no longer in the article; dotted amber text was rewritten. Every revision id links to Wikipedia's copy; the text shown is our own saved copy. Data: /data. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA; quoted for the record; not affiliated with Wikipedia.

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