HLA antigens in the Arab population of the Gaza Strip

The HLA antigen system was studied in the Arab population of the Gaza Strip. The lymphocytes of 113 individuals were typed for 13 and 16 antigens at loci A and B, respectively. The distribution of the HLA antigens was found to be similar to that of an average Caucasoid Middle Eastern population. This was more marked when the tested population was compared with Arab populations living in northern Israel or originating from Lebanon, suggesting that they probably all share a common gene pool. The only noteworthy variation in the Gaza population was the high frequency of BW21, previously found only in Eritreans and Turks.