Jabalia Refugee Camp

Jabalia Refugee Camp is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, situated just north of Gaza City within the North Gaza Governorate. Established in 1948 following the Arab–Israeli War, it was created to shelter Palestinians displaced from their homes during the conflict that accompanied the founding of the State of Israel. Over the decades, the camp has evolved into a densely populated urban settlement, embodying the enduring humanitarian and political challenges of the Palestinian refugee crisis.

Establishment and Early History

The camp was founded by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in 1948–1949 to accommodate thousands of Palestinians who fled or were expelled from towns and villages in southern Palestine. Initially consisting of tents and temporary shelters, the camp gradually developed into a permanent settlement as the prospect of return diminished.
By the 1950s and 1960s, makeshift tents were replaced with simple concrete dwellings. However, despite decades of existence, Jabalia remains officially classified as a refugee camp, reflecting the unresolved status of its inhabitants under international law and their right of return as recognised in UN General Assembly Resolution 194.

Geography and Demographics

Covering an area of approximately 1.4 square kilometres, Jabalia is one of the most densely populated places on earth. The camp hosts over 119,000 registered refugees, although the actual number of residents is likely higher due to population growth and internal displacement within Gaza.
Most of the camp’s inhabitants trace their origins to villages in southern Palestine, such as Majdal (Ashkelon), Isdud (Ashdod), and Beit Jirja, among others. Generations have been born and raised in Jabalia, living under conditions of chronic overcrowding, poverty, and restricted mobility.

Living Conditions and Infrastructure

The living conditions in Jabalia are challenging and have worsened over time, particularly under the blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007. Key features of life in the camp include:

• Overcrowding: Thousands of families live in closely packed homes with minimal space and poor ventilation.
• Water and sanitation issues: Much of the water supply is contaminated by salinity and sewage infiltration, rendering it unsafe for drinking.
• Electricity shortages: Residents experience frequent power cuts, often lasting many hours each day.
• Unemployment and poverty: With Gaza’s economy severely restricted, job opportunities are scarce, leaving many families dependent on humanitarian aid.
• Education and healthcare: UNRWA operates schools, clinics, and social service centres, but these are often overburdened and under-resourced.

Over time, Jabalia has become physically indistinguishable from Gaza City, forming part of a continuous urban sprawl. Despite this, it retains its designation as a refugee camp, symbolising the protracted nature of Palestinian displacement.

Role in Palestinian Political History

Jabalia holds a prominent place in Palestinian political history. It was the birthplace of the First Intifada in December 1987, when widespread protests and civil resistance erupted across the occupied Palestinian territories against Israeli rule. The camp’s residents played a central role in organising demonstrations, strikes, and acts of defiance that defined the uprising.
The camp has also been a stronghold for various Palestinian political and militant movements, including Hamas and Fatah, which have maintained significant influence in the area. Its history reflects the broader trajectory of Palestinian political struggle, resistance, and humanitarian suffering.

Impact of the Recent Conflicts

Jabalia has repeatedly borne the brunt of armed conflict, particularly during Israeli military operations in 2008–2009, 2012, 2014, and the most devastating confrontations from 2023 to 2024.

• During the 2023–2024 Gaza conflict, Jabalia experienced some of the heaviest bombardments in the entire Strip.
• Strikes on residential areas, schools, and shelters caused catastrophic civilian casualties, with reports of entire families being buried under rubble.
• Airstrikes in late October 2023 and subsequent months destroyed significant portions of the camp, leaving thousands dead or injured and vast areas flattened.
• The destruction of homes, markets, hospitals, and infrastructure displaced thousands more residents, compounding Gaza’s already dire humanitarian crisis.

The camp’s dense population and narrow streets have made it especially vulnerable to destruction during aerial and ground assaults, as well as to secondary crises such as disease outbreaks and lack of medical access.

Humanitarian Crisis and Living Conditions

The devastation of Jabalia epitomises the larger humanitarian disaster facing Gaza. Residents have endured repeated displacement, food shortages, and lack of essential supplies due to blockades and conflict. Humanitarian agencies describe conditions as catastrophic, with minimal access to clean water, medical care, and shelter.

• Health impact: Damage to hospitals and clinics has crippled healthcare delivery. Outbreaks of communicable diseases such as diarrhoea and respiratory infections have become common.
• Education disruption: Many UNRWA schools have been destroyed or converted into shelters for displaced families.
• Economic collapse: With local markets destroyed and aid deliveries restricted, residents rely almost entirely on humanitarian assistance for survival.

Cultural and Social Identity

Despite hardship, Jabalia has maintained a strong sense of community identity. Social solidarity networks, local committees, and grassroots initiatives play a crucial role in daily survival. The camp is home to cultural expressions of resilience, including literature, art, and oral history, which preserve collective memory of the Palestinian experience of exile and endurance.
Generations of refugees have maintained the cultural heritage of their ancestral villages, keeping alive the narratives of dispossession and the aspiration for return.

Significance and Contemporary Relevance

Jabalia Refugee Camp is not merely a humanitarian settlement but a symbol of the enduring Palestinian refugee crisis and the failure of the international community to secure a just political resolution. Its continuing existence underscores the intersection of displacement, occupation, and conflict that defines the Palestinian experience.