THE PASHAS OF GAZA
Al Nadwan, and other Pashas, ruled Gaza and all Palestine for more than
two hundred years. Under the Sultans of Turkey, these Pashas, seven in
number, occupied the city after the crusading period. They began to
rule from about A.D. 1510.
They possessed much property in many parts of the country. The present
British Consular Agent's house belonged to one of these Pashas.
The old court (serai) belonged to them, and the present barracks.
All the existing fine buildings were erected by them.
The minaret at the Great Mosque, and two other minarets at the Sajaiah,
were also constructed in their day.
They governed all Palestine and Syria, having their headquarters in
Gaza. Consequently, in the middle of the seventeenth century Gaza once
assumed somewhat of its former importance.
Their rule was arbitrary. Pilgrims proceeding to Jerusalem from Jaffa
were compelled to get permission from the Pasha at Gaza.
If anyone built a house, or owned anything particularly interesting,
the Pashas would lay claim to it by using the expression "Mabrook"
(Blessed). If the owner did not reply favourably he was immediately
hanged.
Hussein Pasha (_c._ A.D. 1660) made Gaza the capital of Palestine. His
serai, which was furnished with great luxury, stood in the middle of a
beautiful Gaza garden.[36] One family was called the Frangi. They were
the Pashas' gardeners. Their descendants became Muslims.
When the Turks came to Gaza the Pashas only lost the serai and
barracks, their other property was not interfered with. It now belongs
to their descendants, who are all poor people, and live on their rents.
These Pashas had their own burying ground, which is still seen, and
known as the Pashas' cemetery.
When Napoleon Bonaparte came to Gaza (A.D. February 1799) the city
was not ruled by any power, and the taxes were collected for him by a
private individual.[37]
After the rule of the Pashas, the Muftis governed Gaza--the Turkish
Government coming into office in 1852.
It has been extremely difficult to obtain this scanty information about
the Gaza Pashas.
FOOTNOTES:
[36] For further information of the beneficent rule of Hussein Pasha,
see Meyer, pp. 97, 98.
[37] See Meyer on Napoleon in Gaza, pp. 101, 102.