Omar Mukhtar Street, Gaza City's main thoroughfare, separates al-Zaytun from al-Daraj.

[9] During the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ground incursion in the area, occupying the district.

On October 19, 2023, the Israeli Air Force struck the neighborhood's historic Church of Saint Porphyrius, killing 19 civilians.

[10] In 2024, the 749 Battalion was deployed to southern Gaza City, including Zeitoun, as part of a broader campaign involving demolition and population displacement.

The video, later reposted on the company’s official social media account, included the caption, “Our job is to flatten Gaza.” Additional commentary on the post affirmed the company’s determination, stating, “No one will stop us.”[13] The footage, along with other footage from the Zeitoun neighborhood, drew criticism from international observers including Amnesty for their impact on civilian infrastructure and population centers.