<p>Examining urbanization in conflict-affected regions provides valuable insights that can inform sustainable urban development strategies. However, research on urbanization dynamics in such areas is limited, compounded by the challenge of distinguishing urban from non-urban areas. This study seeks to address these gaps by investigating urbanization dynamics in Gaza Strip, a region marked by ongoing armed conflict and warfare, using data from the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) project. The GHSL datasets offer standardized definitions, aiding in distinguishing between urban and non-urban areas, providing critical aspects of urbanization, especially in regions with sparse traditional data, and enabling cross-national comparisons. The study analyzes spatial and temporal patterns in built-up surfaces, human population, and settlement types, and explores the relationship between built-up surfaces and human population from 1975 to 2020. Analytical methods, including Mann–Kendall Trend and Sen’s Slope Estimator Tests, Emerging Hot Spot Analysis, Change Detection Analysis, and Geographically Weighted Regression were employed. In the context of Gaza Strip’s de-development, ongoing economic decline, limited land, and blockade, findings reveal spatial variations in the relationship between built-up surfaces and human population within urban and non-urban areas, as well as significant trends of urban densification and over-urbanization. A transformation towards a single large urban center with various settlement types transitioning was observed, prompting considerations of Gaza Strip’s potential evolution into a city-state amidst persistent challenges. This underscores the importance of further exploration into the socio-economic, environmental, and political landscape of conflict-affected regions, including Gaza Strip.</p>