Ze’ev Wissotzky, the famous tea merchant, came up with the idea of establishing a Jewish community in Gaza in the framework of Hovevei Zion. In 1884 the first nucleus arrived in Gaza and within a year there were more than 30 Jewish families in Gaza. Most of the families found employment trading the Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apple) which was highly desirable in the pharmaceutical industry.
In the upcoming years, the community made many efforts to become more financially viable, they started an elementary school called “Samson” and the community institutions even allocated a budget for a teacher. Throughout the years, 3 teachers came to Gaza to try and stabilize the school despite the difficult conditions and the great distance.
World War One and the great battle between the British and the Ottomans for Gaza caused many difficulties for the community residents.
In the 1929 Arab riots the Gaza Jewish community was forced to flee for their safety.