3.1 Publication and citation patterns
The number of publications from the Gaza Strip retrieved from the Scopus database amassed a total of 4076 documents (3878 articles and 198 reviews), reflecting a notable scholarly output from the region. Publication and citation metrics during the time span covered by SciVal (1996–2023) are reported in Fig. 1. A steady increase in annual publications is observed, reaching more than 400 publications per year in 2022 and 2023. The upward trend in annual publications, particularly since 2020, indicates an increasing scholarly engagement despite all the constraints faced by researchers in the region. The citations count also significantly increased, notably in recent years, amassing a total of 57,294 citations from 1996 to 2023. The average citations per paper was 16.8. The Field-weighted Citation Impact (FWCI), which considers average citation rates in the field providing a normalized impact measure, also significantly increased. It surpassed the threshold value (1.0) since 2019, indicating that Gaza’s publications have a citation impact significantly higher than the global average of the Scopus database. The average FWCI score during the last 10 years (2013–2022) registered at 1.54, and that of the last five complete years (2018–2022) registered at 1.9. This surge in citation impact not only reflects the quality and significance of the research conducted in the region but also demonstrates its increasing visibility and influence worldwide. The proportions of documents published in the top journal CiteScore percentiles during the last ten years were 14.6% and 36.3% in the top 10% and top 25% percentiles, respectively (Fig. 1d).
The CiteScore of Scopus differs from the Impact Factor of Clarivate by relying on a 4-year citation window rather than a 2-year one. This extended timeframe accommodates more recent years' citations, potentially rendering CiteScore more robust and stable (Fernandez-Llimos 2018). The distribution of documents across top journal CiteScore percentiles indicates a notable presence of high-quality research output from Gaza in reputable academic journals. This suggests that Gaza's researchers are not only producing a substantial volume of research but are also publishing in journals with high impact and visibility within their respective fields. Moreover, Gaza’s publications are being cited by international patents. During the last decade (2013–2022), scholarly outputs from the Gaza Strip were cited 71 times in a total of 68 international patents: United States of America (55), World Intellectual Property Organization (7), European Patent Office (4), and Japan (2). Figure 2 illustrates the evolution of the number of patents citing scholarly outputs from the Gaza Strip.
3.2 Subject areas and topics
Gaza’s publications span several Scopus subject areas, with Medicine (23.4%), Engineering (23%), Materials Science (18%), Physics and Astronomy (18%), Environmental Science (11.1%), Chemistry (10.7%) and Computer Science (10.5%) emerging as the most prolific (Fig. 3).
The SciVal's topic classification offers a potent tool for navigating the intricate scientific research landscape of Gaza. With around 96,000 topics formed through direct citation linking, Gaza’s researchers contributed to 1068 topics and 505 topic clusters over the last 10 years (Table 1). Most topic clusters are exhibiting high prominence, determined by citation count, Scopus view count, and average journal CiteScore, giving a nuanced understanding of topic's momentum. The most prolific topic cluster is [Concretes; Compressive Strength; Cements] with 155 papers and FWCI of 5.37, and a 100% prominence percentile, highlighting an area of active research. This suggests that Gaza's researchers are actively addressing issues related to infrastructure development and building resilience in the face of societal challenges (Almeshal et al. 2022; Elsayed et al. 2022; Tayeh et al. 2022c, 2022a, b). The second prolific topic cluster is [Photonic Crystals; Photonics; Waveguides] with 88 papers and a FWCI score of 1.47 (Daher et al. 2022; Taya et al. 2022b, 2022c, a). Other topic clusters such as [COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Coronavirus], [X Rays; Fluorescence; Shielding], [Plasmons; Metamaterials; Surface Plasmon Resonance], [Optimization; Algorithms; Evolutionary Algorithms] and [Fractional; Fractional Order; Derivatives] are making a substantial contribution to their respective fields since they exhibit high FWCI scores (> 2). This indicates a forward-looking approach to research, with an emphasis on exploring new frontiers and pushing the boundaries of knowledge in science and technology. By actively engaging with diverse research themes and demonstrating high levels of prominence and citation impact, Gaza's researchers are making significant contributions to their respective fields and enhancing the region's reputation as a hub of scientific inquiry and innovation.
Table 1
Top 30 topic clusters by document number (2013–2022).
Topic Cluster | Scholarly Output | Field-Weighted Citation Impact* | Prominence** percentile |
Concretes; Compressive Strength; Cements | 155 | 5.37 | 100 |
Photonic Crystals; Photonics; Waveguides | 88 | 1.47 | 83 |
COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Coronavirus | 47 | 2.63 | 100 |
X Rays; Fluorescence; Shielding | 45 | 3.31 | 61 |
Plasmons; Metamaterials; Surface Plasmon Resonance | 39 | 2.06 | 100 |
Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Solar Cells | 37 | 0.79 | 100 |
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders; Wounds and Injuries; Disasters | 37 | 1.13 | 87 |
Estimator; Models; Variable Selection | 36 | 0.96 | 86 |
Corrosion; Carbon Steel; Corrosion Inhibitors | 35 | 3.55 | 86 |
Fractional Differential Equation; Positive Solution; Impulsive | 33 | 3.6 | 54 |
Groundwater; Groundwater Resources; Aquifers | 30 | 0.68 | 77 |
Optimization; Algorithms; Evolutionary Algorithms | 28 | 4.31 | 92 |
Construction; Construction Industry; Project Management | 28 | 0.9 | 94 |
Synthesis (Chemical); Derivatives; Pyridines | 23 | 0.58 | 87 |
Silicon Solar Cells; Solar Cells; Silicon | 23 | 0.41 | 70 |
Breast Neoplasms; Early Detection Of Cancer; Women | 22 | 1.18 | 74 |
Adsorption; Adsorbents; Activated Carbon | 21 | 1.81 | 97 |
Cognitive Radio; MIMO Systems; Orthogonal Frequency Multiplexing | 20 | 0.92 | 97 |
Anti-Bacterial Agents; Infection; Methicillin-Resistant S. Aureus | 20 | 0.97 | 97 |
Microbial Fuel Cells; Anaerobic Digestion; Bioreactors | 20 | 0.57 | 99 |
Health; Research; Income | 20 | 0.8 | 50 |
Harmonic Generation; Crystals; Nonlinear Optics | 19 | 1.03 | 45 |
Obesity; Motor Activity; Child | 18 | 0.71 | 98 |
Work; Personality; Psychology | 18 | 1.89 | 98 |
Algorithms; Computer Vision; Models | 16 | 1.42 | 100 |
Students; Medical Students; Education | 15 | 1.62 | 95 |
Radon; Radioisotopes; Radioactivity | 14 | 0.85 | 67 |
Fractional; Fractional Order; Derivatives | 14 | 2.51 | 87 |
Ion Selective Electrodes; Potentiometers; Ionophores | 14 | 0.5 | 37 |
Climate Models; Model; Rainfall | 13 | 0.76 | 99 |
*A FWCI score greater than 1.0 indicates that the publications have a citation impact higher than the global average of Scopus database.
** The prominence percentile gives an indication of the momentum of the topic, highlighting areas of active research.
3.3 Highly cited papers
The top 10 most cited papers with first author from the Gaza strip are given in Table 2. In construction engineering, Tayeh et al. (2012, 2013) investigated the mechanical and permeability properties of interfaces between regular and ultra high-performance concretes, contributing to the development of stronger and more durable structures. Alnahhal et al. (2018) explored the use of recycled materials and waste products in concrete production, demonstrating a sustainable approach while maintaining essential properties. Enshassi et al. (2007, 2009) shed light on the complexities of construction projects in this region. Their studies identified factors like material shortages and political instability as key hurdles impacting efficiency and cost. Thabet et al. (2000; 2002, 2008) explored public health concerns related to occupation and violence in the region. Their research painted a poignant picture of the long-term effects of war trauma on children and adults, highlighting the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and emotional problems. Venturing into mathematics, Matar et al. (2021) investigated the p-Laplacian nonperiodic nonlinear boundary value problem utilizing generalized Caputo fractional derivatives. These studies showcase the breadth and significance of research conducted in the Gaza Strip, spanning practical applications in construction and public health to theoretical advancements in mathematics. They demonstrate the dedication and potential of researchers in the region, contributing to progress across diverse disciplines.
Table 2
Top 10 most cited research papers with first author from Gaza (review articles are not considered)
Article title | Citations | Reference |
Mechanical and permeability properties of the interface between normal concrete substrate and ultra high-performance fiber concrete overlay | 317 | (Tayeh et al. 2012) |
Factors affecting labour productivity in building projects in the Gaza strip | 203 | (Enshassi et al. 2007) |
Post traumatic stress disorder reactions in children of war: A longitudinal study | 179 | (Thabet and Vostanis 2000) |
Delays and cost overruns in the construction projects in the Gaza Strip | 174 | (Enshassi, Al-Najjar, et Kumaraswamy 2009) |
Emotional problems in Palestinian children living in a war zone: A cross-sectional study | 172 | (Thabet et al. 2002) |
Characterization of the interfacial bond between old concrete substrate and ultra high-performance fiber concrete repair composite | 155 | (Tayeh et al. 2013) |
Knowledge, attitude, practice, and toxicity symptoms associated with pesticide use among farm workers in the Gaza Strip | 152 | (Yassin et al. 2002) |
Investigation of the p-Laplacian nonperiodic nonlinear boundary value problem via generalized Caputo fractional derivatives | 140 | (Matar et al. 2021) |
Exposure to war trauma and PTSD among parents and children in the Gaza strip | 135 | (Thabet et al. 2008) |
Assessment on engineering properties and CO2 emissions of recycled aggregate concrete incorporating waste products as supplements to Portland cement | 130 | (Alnahhal et al. 2018) |
3.4 Top institutions
The top three universities in the Gaza Strip are outlined in Fig. 4.
Over the period from 2013 to 2022, the Islamic University of Gaza produced a total of 959 papers, garnered 20659 citations, and achieved a FWCI score of 1.83. Established in 1978 in Gaza City, the Islamic University of Gaza stands as an independent Palestinian institution. It has faced multiple attacks, notably during the 2008 Gaza War, the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, and the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, resulting in significant destruction of its infrastructure and educational facilities (Murphy 2009; “Israeli Airstrikes Target Gaza’s Islamic University” 2014; “Israel bombs Gaza university, alleging use by military” 2023; Mwafy 2020). Sadly, Taya S.A. the university president and a prominent physicist and mathematician, was tragically killed alongside his family in an Israeli airstrike during the 2023 Israel–Hamas conflict ("Israeli air strike in Gaza kills prominent scientist Sufyan Taya, Palestinian ministry says," 2023).
Ranked second among the top institutions is Al-Azhar University of Gaza, which produced 631 papers, received 10476 citations, and obtained a FWCI score of 1.27. Established in 1991, Al-Azhar University is a public, non-profit, and independent educational institution. It too suffered severe damage during the 2023 Israel–Hamas conflict (“Israeli air strikes target Gaza’s Al-Azhar University” 2023).
Finally, Al-Aqsa University, the first higher education institution in the Gaza Strip founded in 1955, produced 256 papers, received 4167 citations, and achieved a FWCI score of 1.39. On February 6th, 2023, Israeli warplanes targeted Al-Aqsa University in Gaza City, causing extensive damage (“Euro-Med” 2024).
According to Scholars Against the War on Palestine (SAWP), all 11 of the enclave’s universities, including those mentioned above, have been targeted by Israeli bombings since October 7, 2023 (“Toolkit - Scholars Against the War on Palestine” 2024). These acts have been characterized as "scholasticide," a term coined by Palestinian professor Karma Nabulsi, indicating the deliberate destruction of educational infrastructure and the harm inflicted upon educators and students (“Toolkit - Scholars Against the War on Palestine” 2024). Such actions, as highlighted by the Euro-Med Monitor, are considered violations of international law and constitute war crimes under the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (“Euro-Med” 2024). It also affirmed that these actions are part of Israel’s recent openly declared policies, aiming to make the Gaza Strip an uninhabitable place, forcibly displacing its inhabitants by creating an environment devoid of the basic elements of life and services.
3.5 Top authors
The top 30 authors by h-index are given in Table 3. These top authors are affiliated to the Islamic University of Gaza (16), Al-Azhar University of Gaza (12), and Al-Aqsa University (2). Ten authors exhibited an h-index above 20. The most prolific and impactful author among them is Tayeh B.A. from the Islamic University of Gaza with 260 documents and an h-index of 60. More than 88% of his documents (177) are classified in the top 25% most cited documents worldwide. His average FWCI score is 5.08. The most contributed Topics during the period spanning 2018–2022 are: [Mechanical Properties; Self Compacting Concrete; Concrete Slabs (23 documents)], [Geopolymers; Coal Ash; Alkali (21 documents)], and [Rubber Waste; Mechanical Properties; Tires (18 documents)].
The most prolific and impactful author from the Al-Azhar University is Alajerami Y.S.M. with 113 documents and an h-index of 30. More than 86% of his documents (60) are classified in the top 25% most cited documents worldwide. His average FWCI score is 1.78. The most contributed Topics during the period spanning 2018–2022 are: [Radiation Shield; Gamma Ray; Shielding (40 documents)], [Breast Neoplasms; Mammography; Early Detection of Cancer (3 documents)], and [Computed Tomographic Angiography; Image Quality; Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis (3 documents)].
The most prolific and impactful author from the Al-Aqsa University is Awadallah M.A. with 102 documents and an h-index of 32. More than 66% of his documents (49) are classified in the top 25% most cited documents worldwide. His average FWCI score is 3.42. The most contributed Topics during the period spanning 2018–2022 are: [Metaheuristics; Fireflies; Chiroptera (14 documents)], [Economic Dispatch; Particle Swarm Optimizer; Economics (5 documents)], and [Feature Subset Selection; Genetic Algorithm; High-Dimensional Data (5 documents)].
3.6 Collaborating countries
Gaza's researchers are engaged in collaborations with 159 countries worldwide. The VOSviewer collaboration network is depicted in Fig. 5. Notably, the top collaborating countries include Egypt (466 papers), Saudi Arabia (437 papers), Malaysia (414 papers), Jordan (328 papers), and the United States (314 papers). In recent years, there has been a shift in collaboration trends, with a decrease in engagement with Western countries in favor of strengthened collaborations with Arab nations, India, and China.
Table 3
Top 30 most prolific authors in the Gaza Strip.
Rank | Author | Affiliation | h-index | h5-index* | Documents** | Citations |
1 | Tayeh, B.A. | Islamic University of Gaza | 60 | 38 | 261 | 9995 |
2 | Awadallah, M.A. | Al-Aqsa University | 32 | 19 | 102 | 3014 |
3 | Alajerami, Y.S.M. | Al-Azhar University of Gaza | 30 | 14 | 113 | 2633 |
4 | Taya, S.A. | Islamic University of Gaza | 29 | 12 | 210 | 2989 |
5 | Safi, Z. | Al-Azhar University of Gaza | 25 | 16 | 85 | 2082 |
6 | Safi, Z.S. | Al-Azhar University of Gaza | 25 | 16 | 85 | 2082 |
7 | Enshassi, A. | Islamic University of Gaza | 23 | 5 | 81 | 1726 |
8 | El-Nahhal, I.M. | Al-Azhar University of Gaza | 23 | 6 | 80 | 1586 |
9 | Salem, J.K. | Al-Azhar University of Gaza | 21 | 6 | 58 | 1246 |
10 | Daher, M.G. | Islamic University of Gaza | 17 | 7 | 64 | 567 |
11 | Hammad, T.M. | Al-Azhar University of Gaza | 17 | 4 | 34 | 866 |
12 | Abu-Naser, S.S. | Al-Azhar University of Gaza | 17 | 7 | 49 | 724 |
13 | Shabat, M.M. | Islamic University of Gaza | 16 | 6 | 189 | 1044 |
14 | Abadla, M.M. | Al-Aqsa University | 16 | 10 | 35 | 531 |
15 | Sirdah, M.M. | Al-Azhar University of Gaza | 16 | 3 | 32 | 703 |
16 | El-Ashgar, N.M. | Islamic University of Gaza | 15 | 2 | 46 | 758 |
17 | El-Agez, T.M. | Islamic University of Gaza | 15 | 3 | 45 | 663 |
18 | Matar, M.M. | Al-Azhar University of Gaza | 15 | 11 | 48 | 686 |
19 | Zaggout, F.R. | Al-Azhar University of Gaza | 15 | 1 | 28 | 452 |
20 | Saadeh, S.M. | Islamic University of Gaza | 14 | 4 | 32 | 526 |
21 | Abdel-Latif, M.S. | Islamic University of Gaza | 14 | 1 | 36 | 713 |
22 | El-Khozondar, H.J. | Islamic University of Gaza | 13 | 8 | 103 | 695 |
23 | Bottcher, B. | Islamic University of Gaza | 12 | 9 | 54 | 363 |
24 | Elmanama, A.A. | Islamic University of Gaza | 12 | 4 | 31 | 445 |
25 | Kodeh, F.S. | Al-Azhar University of Gaza | 12 | 5 | 26 | 323 |
26 | Abu-El-Noor, N. | Islamic University of Gaza | 12 | 7 | 44 | 360 |
27 | Sharif, F.A. | Islamic University of Gaza | 12 | 1 | 24 | 340 |
28 | Awadallah, A.M. | Islamic University of Gaza | 11 | 2 | 36 | 339 |
29 | Aljeesh, Y. | Islamic University of Gaza | 11 | 4 | 41 | 298 |
30 | Yassin, M.M. | Islamic University of Gaza | 10 | 4 | 37 | 542 |
*h5-index refers to the h-index of the last five years (2019–2022).
**Total Scopus documents.
During the period spanning 2018–2022, academic collaboration in the Gaza Strip has been pivotal in fostering research output and international engagement. International collaboration has been particularly significant, constituting 74.6% of the total research output, resulting in the publication of 1069 papers and boasting a FWCI of 2.31, indicating a high level of impact. However, national collaboration accounted for 8.1% and contributed with 116 papers published and a FWCI of 0.57. Institutional collaboration accounted for 10%, yielding 153 papers with an FWCI of 0.59. Additionally, single authorship documents represented 7.3% of the total research output during this period and resulted in 105 documents with an FWCI score of 0.35. This disparity can be attributed to the constraints imposed by the siege and occupation, hindering the development of robust local academic networks and infrastructure. The limited resources and restricted mobility within Gaza have likely impacted the depth and breadth of research collaborations, reflected in the lower FWCI scores associated with national and institutional collaborations. Indeed, conducting research in Gaza presents unique challenges, including data sensitivity, population vulnerability, and constraints on researchers (Khatib et al. 2017; Alkhaldi et al. 2021; Arawi 2021). For more than 40 years, Palestinian universities have suffered systematic harassment by the Israeli occupier. The conflict has severely impacted education outcomes for Palestinian students, affecting exam performance and university admissions (Brück et al. 2019). Also, Israeli interference inhibits academic effectiveness, reduces collaboration, and prevents international visits, equipment supply, and employment of foreign teaching staff (Stefanini 2015). At various times, campuses have been ordered closed, while during "routine" times, the inviting of guest lecturers has been banned, as have departures abroad for training and conferences (Matar, 2024). Moreover, Gaza's higher education system has been repeatedly subjected to attacks, resulting in the destruction of infrastructure and loss of life (Jebril 2023; Milton et al. 2023). Among its thousands of airstrikes on Gaza during the last war, the Israeli army deliberately and specifically targeted academic, intellectual, and scientific figures in Gaza. Dozens of them were killed in direct strikes on their homes without prior warning and crushed under the rubble with their families (“Euro- Med” 2024). The Israel’s military attack, characterized by widespread and deliberate destruction of cultural and historical properties, such as universities, schools, libraries, and archives, is part of Israel’s declared policies to make Gaza uninhabitable, creating a coercive environment devoid of the minimum essentials of life and services, which may eventually force its residents to migrate (“Euro- Med” 2024).