Jabalia refugee camp

Refugee camp in Gaza Strip, Palestine

Refugee camp in North Gaza, State of Palestine
Jabalia Camp
مخيّم جباليا
Refugee camp
House in the Jabalia refugee camp, destroyed by Israeli bombing 2012
House in the Jabalia refugee camp, destroyed by Israeli bombing 2012
31°32′14″N 34°29′47″E / 31.53722°N 34.49639°E / 31.53722; 34.49639
StateState of Palestine
GovernorateNorth Gaza
Government
 • TypeRefugee Camp
Area
 • Total1,400 dunams (1.4 km2 or 0.5 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)[1]
 • Total49,462
 • Density35,000/km2 (92,000/sq mi)

Jabalia Camp (Arabic: مخيّم جباليا) is a Palestinian refugee camp created by the United Nations following Israel's war of independence in 1948. Despite its name, it is nowadays an urban agglomeration located 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) north of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip. It is the largest refugee camp in Palestinian territory, with more than 100,000 inhabitants.

History

The Jabalia refugee camp is in the North Gaza Governorate, Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the camp had a population of 49,462 in 2017.[1] However, on June 30, 2002, the registered population was 103,646 inhabitants. The camp is located at the northern end of the Gaza Strip, close to the Israeli border and a village with the same name. The camp only covers an area of 1.4 km2 making it one of the most densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip.[2] The First Intifada in December 1987 began in Jabalia. The camp has been the scene of much violence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. It is also considered a major stronghold of the Hamas movement.[3] The camp is the largest refugee camp in Palestinian territory.

2014

During the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, Israeli artillery reportedly hit an UNWRA school in Jabalia Camp, killing at least 15 Palestinians sheltering there.[4] A UN spokesman stated: "Last night, children were killed as they slept next to their parents on the floor of a classroom in a UN-designated shelter in Gaza. Children killed in their sleep; this is an affront to all of us, a source of universal shame. Today the world stands disgraced."[5]

2023

Protestors at the camp participated in the 2023 Gaza economic protests against poor economic conditions in Gaza and Hamas mismanagement.[6]

The Jabalia refugee camp, which has been the target of multiple Israeli air strikes during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, was struck again on 31 October.[7] The Israeli air-strike killed at least 50 Palestinians and trapped more than a hundred beneath the rubble, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.[8] The Indonesia Hospital said most casualties were women and children.[9] Gaza Interior Ministry stated the camp had been "completely destroyed," with preliminary estimates of about 400 wounded or dead.[10] IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that Israeli fighter jets attacked the refugee camp,[11] and stated that the attack killed a Hamas commander who led the 7 October attacks, dozens of Palestinian militants, and destroyed Palestinian tunnels.[12] Hamas said none of its commanders were present and that Israel was using these claims as an excuse for the attack.[13]

2024

The Israeli army withdrew from the refugee camp on 6 February 2024. Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif reported that all that remained was total destruction, with one resident of the area stating there was "not a single habitable house" remaining in Jabalia.[14]

Notable people

See also

  • flagPalestine portal

References

  1. ^ a b Preliminary Results of the Population, Housing and Establishments Census, 2017 (PDF). Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) (Report). State of Palestine. February 2018. pp. 64–82. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  2. ^ Ibrahim, Sally; Mizzi, Oliver (November 2, 2023). "What do we know about the Jabalia refugee camp, bombed twice by Israel?". The New Arab.
  3. ^ Johnston, Alan. Eyewitness: Inside Jabaliya BBC News. 2004-10-01.
  4. ^ Strikes on U.N. school, crowded market kill 31 as Gaza war rages, July 30th 2014, CBS News
  5. ^ UN: 'world stands disgraced' as shelter for Gaza children is shelled by Israel, 30 July 2014, The Guardian
  6. ^ Adam, Ali (2023-08-06). "Despite Hamas' crackdown, Gaza protests continue in rare defiance". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  7. ^ Mpoke Bigg, Matthew; Zraick, Karen; Boxerman, Aaron (31 October 2023). "Images of the Jabaliya refugee camp show a large crater and widespread damage". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Rescue teams trying to evacuate people from under the rubble". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  9. ^ David Gritten. "Jabalia: Israel air strike reportedly kills dozens at Gaza refugee camp". BBC News.
  10. ^ "Jabalia refugee camp 'completely destroyed'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Israel Gaza live news: Dozens reported killed in Gaza refugee camp blast". BBC News. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  12. ^ "Dozens reported killed in Gaza refugee camp blast". BBC News. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  13. ^ Al-Mughrabi, Nidal; Rose, Emily; Al-Mughrabi, Nidal (31 October 2023). "Israel strikes dense Gaza camp, says it kills Hamas commander". Reuters. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  14. ^ "'Nothing spared' in Jabalia after Israeli army's withdrawal". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 8 February 2024.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jabalia Camp.
  • Jabalia, articles from UNWRA
  • Jabalia camp profile
  • Welcome To Jabalya R.C.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Cities
State of Palestine
MunicipalitiesVillages
Refugee camps
  • v
  • t
  • e
Palestine refugee camps locations and populations as of 2015[1]
 Gaza Strip
518,000 UNRWA refugees
 West Bank
188,150 UNRWA refugees
 Syria
319,958 UNRWA refugees
 Lebanon
188,850 UNRWA refugees
 Jordan
355,500 UNRWA refugees
Al-Shati (Beach camp)87,000
Bureij 34,000
Deir al-Balah 21,000
Jabalia 110,000
Khan Yunis 72,000
Maghazi 24,000
Nuseirat 66,000
Rafah 104,000
Canada closed
Aqabat Jaber6,400
Ein as-Sultan 1,900
Far'a 7,600
Fawwar 8,000
Jalazone 11,000
Qalandia 11,000
Am'ari 10,500
Deir 'Ammar 2,400
Dheisheh 13,000
Aida 4,700
Al-Arroub 10,400
Askar 15,900
Balata 23,600
'Azza (Beit Jibrin) 1,000
Ein Beit al-Ma' (Camp No. 1) 6,750
Tulkarm 18,000
Nur Shams 9,000
Jenin 16,000
Shu'fat 11,000
Silwad
Birzeit
Sabinah22,600
Khan al-Shih 20,000
Nayrab 20,500
Homs 22,000
Jaramana 18,658
Daraa 10,000
Hama 8,000
Khan Danoun 10,000
Qabr Essit 23,700
Unofficial camps
Ein Al-Tal 6,000
Latakia 10,000
Yarmouk 148,500
Bourj el-Barajneh17,945
Ain al-Hilweh 54,116
El Buss 11,254
Nahr al-Bared 5,857
Shatila 9,842
Wavel 8,806
Mar Elias 662
Mieh Mieh 5,250
Beddawi 16,500
Burj el-Shemali 22,789
Dbayeh 4,351
Rashidieh 31,478
Former camps
Tel al-Zaatar  ?
Nabatieh  ?
Zarqa20,000
Jabal el-Hussein 29,000
Amman New (Wihdat) 51,500
Souf 20,000
Baqa'a 104,000
Husn (Martyr Azmi el-Mufti camp) 22,000
Irbid 25,000
Jerash 24,000
Marka 53,000
Talbieh 8,000
Al-Hassan  ?
Madaba  ?
Sokhna  ?
References
  1. ^ "Camp Profiles". unrwa.org. United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Retrieved 2 July 2015.