The Deir el-Balah Governorate (محافظة دير البلح Muḥāfaẓat Dayr al Balaḥ), also referred to as Central Gaza Governorate (محافظة الوسطى) is one of 16 Governorates of Palestine in the central Gaza Strip which is administered by Palestine aside from its border with Israel, airspace and maritime territory. Its total land area consists of 56 sq. kilometers. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, in mid-year 2006 it had a population of 208,716 inhabitants distributed between eight localities.
