Khan Yunis is situated in the District of Gaza within Palestine, serving as a significant population center in the southern Gaza region. According to British Mandate village statistics from 1945, Khan Yunis had a population of 11,220 residents. The town's land composition reflected substantial Palestinian ownership: Arab landholders controlled 28,691 dunums, while 27,431 dunums were classified as public land, with no Jewish-owned property recorded.
Land usage patterns in 1945 demonstrated the area's agricultural character. The community cultivated 23,656 dunums with cereal crops, maintained 4,172 dunums of irrigated and plantation land, and had 2,302 dunums of built-up urban space.
The settlement featured notable structures including the castle fortress (Qal'a), a significant mosque, and water wheels (naoura) used for irrigation. The town supported diverse economic activities centered on agriculture and trade. The community maintained active civic institutions, evidenced by a 1944 document from the Egyptian consulate acknowledging Khan Yunis residents' charitable donation to Egyptian poor, demonstrating the town's regional connections and civic generosity.
