Gaza (غَزَّة): Gaza City is located in the northern region of the Gaza Strip. Gaza in Semitic languages translates as “fierce” or “strong”, and is known as “the prized city”. Muslims referred to Gaza as "Ghazzat Hashem", in honor of the great grandfather of Prophet Muhammad (S) Hāshim ibn ʿAbd Manāf, who is buried within Gaza City. In 638 Gaza was conquered by Muslim forces under Amr ibn al-As. In the 1947 UN Partition Plan Gaza was assigned to Palestine but was occupied by Egypt after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, and then by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. In 2005, Israel withdrew from the Gaza strip, and imposed a blockade under the Israeli Military Occupation since 2006.

Jerusalem (القُدس): Jerusalem or Al-Quds is one of the three holiest cities in Islamic history alongside Mecca and Medina. Jerusalem is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque which was the first Qibla (direction of prayer) in Islam. Jerusalem is the site from which the beloved Prophet (S) ascended to the Heavens as part of Al-Isra’ (night journey from Mecca to Al-Aqsa) Wal Mi’raj (ascension to heavens). The name Jerusalem ties to “salem” which comes from Salam for Peace; thus Jerusalem is the “City of Peace” or “Dwelling of Peace”. The main religious compound is known as AL-Haram Al-Sharif which contains Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and the Buraq Wall also known as the Western or Wailing Wall.

Rafah (رفح): Rafah is in the southern region of the Gaza strip. Rafah was captured by the Rashidun army under general 'Amr ibn al-'As in 635, and was an important trading city during the Muslim period. After the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Egypt governed the area and refugee camps were established. During the 1967 Six-Day War, the IDF captured and occupied Rafah and subjected it to several massacres and destructive campaigns through 2005. Gaza's only airport, Yasser Arafat International Airport (1998 to 2001), was located south of the city until it was bombed and bulldozed by the IDF. Currently Rafah is the site of the Rafah Border Crossing, the sole crossing point between Egypt and the State of Palestine.

Nazareth (النَّاصِرَة): Nazareth is located in the Northern region of historic Palestine, in current day Israel North of the West Bank. The name in Arabic comes from Nasara which can be translated as Christians, and the root words meaning “to help” or “grant victory”. Although Bethlehem is recognized as birthplace of Jesus (A), he was raised in Nazareth. The majority of the inhabitants of Nazareth are Arab Muslims and Christians. The city contains several holy sites to both Christians and Muslims including Makam al-Nabi Sain Mosque and the Church of the Annunciation where, according to Catholic tradition, angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she would give birth to Jesus (A).

Tubas (طوباس): Tubas is a city in the northeastern part of the West Bank. Tubas is known for its plentiful irrigation, agriculture and olive groves. Much of that land has been usurped by Israel. Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Tubas has been under Israeli occupation.

Beit Jala (بيت جالا): Beit Jala is located in the Bethlehem Governorate of Palestine, in the West Bank. The majority of the current population is Palestinian Christians. In the Crusader era, the village was called Apezala. In 1516, the village was included in the Ottoman Empire with the rest of Palestine. In this century, Beit Jala was a large village of Christian and peasants. Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Beit Jala has been under Israeli occupation. The Israel barrier in the West Bank will separate over 50 Beit Jala families from their land.

Qibya (قبية): Qibya is located in the West Bank on the Green Line, which represents the pre-1967 border with Israel. In the wake of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, and after the 1949 Armistice Agreements, Qibya came under Jordanian rule like many other cities in the West Bank. In October 1953 Qibya was the target of an Israeli raid known as the Qibya massacre commanded by Ariel Sharon which resulted in the deaths of 69 unarmed civilians and large-scale destruction of the village. Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Qibya has been under Israeli occupation. Israel has confiscated land from Qibya in order to construct the Israeli West Bank barrier.

Isdud (إسدود): The name of the city originates from an ancient Levantine metropolis situated at Tel Ashdod, an archaeological site co-located with the remains of the former Ottoman-era. Isdud may have been utilized as a city where caravaners would stop to rest on long journeys, and as postal stop between Al-Ramla and Gaza. Prior to 1948, the population consisted of Muslims and Christians. In the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Isdud was the northern most front of the Egyptian Army prior to taking a defensive posture. The indigenous were expelled as part of the Nakba in 1948.

Lod (اللد): Lod is located in central historic Palestine, currently in Israel off the western boarder of the West Bank. In the year 985 AD, Lod was visited by the local Arab geographer al-Muqaddasi when it was under the Fatimid Caliphate, and was noted for its Great Mosque which served the residents of al-Ludd, Ramla, and the nearby villages. The city is believed to be the location referenced in an Islamic hadith as the location of the battlefield where the false messiah (al-Masih ad-Dajjal) will be slain before the Day of Judgment following the return of Prophet Issa or Jesus (A).

Bir Seb’a ( بئر السبع): The name of the city translate to the Seventh Well. The name is derived from the story of Ibrahim (A), as it relates to the seven wells that were dug in the region by Ibrahim (A). The city is the second largest city by area in historic Palestine, and is located in the Southern region of the country. The population had been almost entirely Muslim and Christian, and was designated to be part of the Arab state in the 1947 UN Partition Plan. In October 1948 it was captured by the Israel Defense Forces and the Arab population was expelled as part of the Nakba.

Deir Al-Balah (دير البلح): Deir Al-Balah is city in the central region of the Gaza Strip. The city is known for its date palms which it is named after, “Monastery of the Date Palms”. Prior to the 19th century, the name of the city was known as “Deir al-Khidr" after al-Khidr. Al-Khidr is a figure not mentioned by name in the Quran, but he is described in Surah Al-Kahf, as a righteous servant of God possessing great wisdom or mystic knowledge. The mosque in Deir al-Balah which bears his name is traditionally believed to contain his tomb.

Yaffa (يَافَا): Yaffa (or Jaffa) is a port city on the East coast of the Mediterranean Sea that now resides within Israel near Tel-Aviv. The Canaanites referred to the city as Yafi meaning “gorgeous”, but others believe the city was named for Yafet (Japheth), one of the sons of Noah (A), who built the city after the great flood. In 636 Yaffa was conquered by Muslims. In 1799, Napoleon captured the town in the “Siege of Yaffa”. In the 19th century, the Jaffa/Yaffa orange was produced for export after being developed by Arab farmers. Yaffa was the most advanced city in Palestine in the development of many commercial industries. Most publications and newspapers in Palestine were published in Yaffa.

Haifa (حَيْفَا): The port city of Haifa is the third largest in Palestine by population after Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv. Haifa’s history includes periods of Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, Arab and Ottoman rule. Haifa is derived from the word “haif” meaning skinny in Arabic as well as shore or coast in Phoenician; when combined represent its skinny shoreline. Haifa was a prime example of fruitful and peaceful coexistence between Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths. In 1947 Jewish militia carried out what was known as the Balad-Al-Sheikh massacre against employees of an oil refinery and their families. After 1948, 95% of its Muslim Palestinian population was forced to flee in droves to its shorelines and departed for Lebanon.

Deir Yassin (دير ياسين): The village was named in honor of Sheikh Yassin whose tomb was in a mosque, or shrine located just outside the village, on a high spot, dominating the surrounding area. Deir Yassin's inhabitants prospered from mining; a rich vein of hard yellow limestone was prized for its resistance to the rigors of Jerusalem's climate. The quarry (hajar yasinik or "Yasin's stone") supplied the Jerusalem market, and the wealth allowed the village to develop. In 1948, the killings at Deir Yassin led to the exodus of 700,000 Palestinians from their villages. The area was incorporated into the State of Israel; the Jewish neighborhood of Givat Shaul Bet was built on Deir Yassin's land.

Al-Khalil / Hebron (الخليل): In Arabic Al-Khalil meaning companion or friend is believed to be named after Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) who is referred to as Khalil-Ul Rahman or “friend of the Merciful (Allah)”. It is believed by both Jewish and Muslim faiths that he is buried there. It is the second largest city in the West Bank and with the exception of a brief crusader control, successive Muslim dynasties ruled Hebron from the 6th century until the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire following WWI. It was governed by Jordan after the wars in 1948 until Israel occupation in 1967. It is known for producing limestone amongst other agricultural exports.

Sabra: Sabra is a neighborhood in Beirut adjacent to the Palestinian refugee camp Shatila. Unfortunately this is known most prominently as part of the Sabra and Shatila massacres, where up to 3,500 civilians were slaughtered, mostly Palestinians and Lebanese Shiites, by the Hobeika-led militia and the IDF. The massacre took place over a 3-day span from September 16-18 in 1982. Additionally, there is a neighborhood district in western Gaza by the name of Sabra. The Sabra neighborhood, like all of Gaza, has been under a blockade under the Israeli Military Occupation since 2006.

Shatila (شاتيلا): Shatila is a refugee camp located within Lebanon that was established after the Nakba in 1948 for Palestinians who were forced from the lands in Northern Palestine. Unfortunately this is known most prominently as part of the Sabra and Shatila massacres, where up to 3,500 civilians were slaughtered, mostly Palestinians and Lebanese Shiites, by the Hobeika-led militia and the IDF. The massacre took place over a 3-day span from September 16-18 in 1982.

Sheikh Jarrah(الشيخ جراح): Sheikh Jarrah is loacted in East Jerusalem, less than 2km north of the Old City. The Arab neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah was originally a village named after Hussam al-Din al-Jarrahi, who lived in the 12th century and was an emir and the personal physician to Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, the military leader whose army liberated Jerusalem from the Crusaders. Sheikh Hussam received the title jarrah (جراح), meaning "healer" or "surgeon". Sheikh Jarrah established a small mosque or school known as the Zawiya Jarrahiyya. Sheikh Jarrah was buried on the grounds of the school. Most of its present Palestinian population is said to come from refugees expelled from Jerusalem's Talbiya neighbourhood in 1948.

Safad (صفد): Safad is located in the Northeast region of historic Palestine, just West of the Golan Heights, and is currently within Israel. The mountains and lands surrounding the city of Safad were cultivated with olives, grapes, tobacco and other fruit trees, vegetables and cereals, the most important crops produced by the Safed are olives, grapes, figs, melons, apricots, plums, peaches, pears and oranges.

Baysan (بيسان): Baysan was one of the major districts in Palestine prior to the 1947/1948 nakba, the major city is now referred to as the Israeli town of Beit She’an. In 634, Byzantine forces were defeated by the Muslim army of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (R ) and the city reverted to its Semitic name, being named Baysan in Arabic. The day of victory came to be known in Arabic as Yawm Baysan or "the day of Baysan."

Khan Yunis (خان يونس): Khan Yunis is located in the southern region of the Gaza Strip. Before the 14th century, a roadside inn for caravans was established to protect caravans, pilgrims and travelers. The Inn was constructed there by emir Yunus al-Noorzai Khan in 1387–88. The growing town surrounding it was named "Khan Yunis" after him. In 1389 Yunus was killed in battle. The town would become an important center for trade and its weekly Thursday market drew traders from neighboring regions. In 2016, Al Qarara Cultural Museum, ( متحف القرارة ) was founded near Khan Yunis. The museum featured the archaeology and history of the area; it was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in October 2023.

Akka (عكّا): Akka located 17km south of the Lebanese border was first founded by either a Canaanite or a Phoenician Arab tribe. For the Canaanites, Akka was known by 'Akkaw (meaning hot sand), which is derived from the Arabic word of 'Akk, meaning intense rubbing. It was a major district and port city whose industries dwindled significantly after the development of Haifa and the occupation. It was known for producing many goods such as glass, mirrors, and pottery. Prior to its occupation in May of 1948, of its 70,000 residents less than 3,000 were Jewish. After the occupation less than 3,000 Christian and Muslim Palestinians remained.

Jenin (جنين): Situated in the northern West Bank this city is believed to have its name derived form early Canaanite name “Ein Ganim” meaning the spring of gardens. It has welcomed tens of thousands of refugees since the 1948 war and was eventually occupied by Israel during the 1967 war. As late as 2002 during the Battle of Jenin, the Israeli army launched a significant offensive under the guise of terrorists being harbored in its refugee camps killing many innocent civilians.

Nablus (نابلس): Located in the west Bank 30 miles north of Jerusalem its name is believed to have been derived from the Roman origin “Neopolis” meaning “new city” when it was named by one of their emperors. It was conquered by the Muslims under the command of Khalid ibn al-Walid who was a general of the Rashidun army of Umar ibn al-Khattab in 636 after the battle of Yarmouk. Under Muslim rule, Nablus contained a diverse population of Muslims, Christians and Jews. It was historically known for being the areas largest exporter of soap. Controlled by Jordan after the 1948 war it was eventually occupied by Israel in 1967.

Ramla (الرملة): Ramla is located in the central region of historic Palestine, currently within Israel. The city was founded in the early 8th century CE by the Umayyad prince Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik, the district he governed in Bilad al-Sham before becoming caliph in 715. The city's strategic and economic value derived from its location at the intersection of the ancient trae route Via Maris, connecting Cairo with Damascus, and the road connecting the Mediterranean port of Yaffa with Jerusalem. Not long after its establishment, Ramla developed as the commercial center of Palestine, serving as a hub for pottery, dyeing, weaving, and olive oil, and as the home of numerous Muslim scholars or ‘Ulama’.

Yazur (يازور): Yazur is located near the western coast of historic Palestine, near the port city of Yaffa. In recent history, Yazur was mostly destroyed with the exception of its shrines. Yazur was the birthplace of al-Hasan ibn 'Ali al-Yazuri, who became a powerful minister in A.D. 1050 during the Fatimid period.

Areeha (أريحا): Areeha, more commonly known as Jericho, is a city near the Eastern border of the West Bank near the northern shore of the Dead Sea. Areeha comes from the Arabic word meaings 'fragrant' and also has its roots in Canaanite Reaẖ. other theories hold that it originates in the Canaanite word Yaraḥ 'moon' or the name of a lunar deity for whom the city was an early center of non-Islamic worship. Areeha is thought to be one of the oldest cities in the world, with archaeological finds dating back beyond 9,000 BC. Areeha is considered the Eastern Gate of Palestine.

Al-Bireh (البيرة): Al-Bireh is located in the West Bank about 9-10 miles North of Jerusalem. The name is translated as "The Well of the Palace" as the location served as an economic crossroad between the north and south, along the caravan route between Jerusalem and Nablus. In 1187 during the Battle of Hattin, the Ayyubids under Salahuddin drove away the Crusaders and reconquered interior Palestine. The Ayyubids built a mosque in the town dedicated to the second Calipha Umar ibn al-Khattab (R). In the wake of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Al-Bireh came under Jordanian rule. During the Six-Day War, Israeli troops occupied the city, and Al-Bireh has been under Israeli occupation since.

Tulkarem (طولكرم): Tulkarem is in the northwestern region of the West Bank, situated along the 1949 Armistice Line that delineates the West Bank from Israel. The name translates from Arabic as "mountain of vines", similar to the Aramaic name Tur Karma ("vineyard hill"). Tulkarem lies in a strategic location, sitting along the western foothills of the Nablus mountains with its elevation shielding inhabitants and travelers from the harsh conditions of the coastal plains. It was an ancient trade route between Egypt and the Fertile Crescent. In 2003 the West Bank barrier wall was erected along the western edge greatly reducing market and trade activities. The town hosts the first public university in the West Bank, Palestine Technical University–Kadoorie (1930).