Nuseirat refugee camp explained

Nuseirat camp
Translit Lang1:Arabic
Translit Lang1 Type:Arabic
Translit Lang1 Info:Arabic: مخيّم النصيرات
Type:Refugee camp
Pushpin Map:Palestine
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Nuseirat camp within Palestine
Coordinates:31.4475°N 34.3928°W
Grid Name:Palestine grid
Subdivision Type:State
Subdivision Name:State of Palestine
Subdivision Type1:Governorate
Subdivision Name1:Deir al-Balah
Established Title:Founded
Unit Pref:dunam
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:31,747
Population As Of:2024
Population Note:Population total includes both the camp population and the population of the Nuseirat municipality
Population Density Km2:auto

Nuseirat (Arabic: مخيّم النصيرات) is a Palestinian refugee camp located in the middle of the Gaza Strip,[2] five kilometers north-east of Deir al-Balah. The refugee camp is in the Deir al-Balah Governorate, Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the refugee camp had a population of 31,747 and the surrounding Nuseirat municipality had a population of 54,851 in 2017. The camp was established after the 1948 Palestinian expulsion during the 1948 Palestine war.

History

Ancient history

The Nuseirat camp was named after the local Nuseirat tribe, part of the larger Hanajira confederation, that historically dominated the area between Deir al-Balah and Gaza. Excavations in the area have revealed remains of a large coenobium, including a church with a crypt, a bathhouse and a hospice, reminiscent of the monastery of Martyrius at Ma'ale Adummim. The side has been tentatively identified as that of the monastery of Seridus.[3] [4]

Origin of the refugee camp

The camp was established after the 1948 Palestinian expulsion during the 1948 Palestine war. Most refugees of this camp came from the southern areas of Palestine such as Beersheba and the coastal plain. Prior to the camp's establishment by UNRWA, the roughly 16,000 original refugees settled in the grounds of a former British military prison at the site.[5]

2000s

In May 2018 a mosque, the Grand Nuseirat Mosque, was opened by the Qatari envoy to Gaza, Mohammed Al Emadi.[6]

Israel–Hamas war

See main article: 2024 Nuseirat rescue operation and Nuseirat refugee camp massacre.

See also: 2024 Nuseirat school attack. The Nuseirat refugee camp has been bombed repeatedly since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. On 18 October 2023 the Grand Nuseirat Mosque was bombed and destroyed by Israeli airstrikes,[7] subsequently the attacks continued causing more than a hundred victims.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

On 8 June 2024, the IDF and Yamam rescued four Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Nuseirat, including Noa Argamani, during a rescue operation.[25] [26] An IDF spokesperson stated that the hostages were guarded by armed militants and concealed among Gazan civilians. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 274 Palestinians were killed and 698 wounded in the Israeli airstrikes on the refugee camp, causing international outrage and the attack deemed a massacre.[27] [28] The operation took place in two sites in Nuseirat, where the hostages were kept, a school and a marketplace.[29] [30]

Population

!Census year!Population[31]
200728.093
201731.747

External links

Notes and References

  1. February 2018 . Preliminary Results of the Population, Housing and Establishments Census, 2017 . Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) . . 64–82 . 2023-10-24 . 2023-07-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230704174803/https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Downloads/book2364-1.pdf . live.
  2. Web site: Nuseirat Camp . 2024-01-07 . 2019-06-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190616180514/https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/gaza-strip/nuseirat-camp . live.
  3. Book: Brooks Hedstrom . Darlene L. . Pettegrew . David K. . Caraher . William R. . Davis . Thomas W. . The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Archaeology . 2019 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-936904-1 . 156 . 5 February 2024 . en . The Archaeology of Early Monastic Communities . 6 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240606211821/https://www.google.es/books/edition/The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Early_Christian_A/uWR7DwAAQBAJ . live.
  4. Book: Hirschfeld, Yizhar . Yizhar Hirschfeld . Bitton-Ashkelony . Brouria . Kofsky . Arieh . Christian Gaza In Late Antiquity . 1 January 2004 . BRILL . 978-90-04-13868-1 . 76–77 . 5 February 2024 . en . The Monasteries of Gaza: an archaeological review . 6 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231106200132/https://www.google.es/books/edition/Christian_Gaza_In_Late_Antiquity/lA9VwVwoyiAC . live.
  5. Web site: Nuseirat refugee camp . UNRWA . United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees . 5 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120204154516/http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=83 . 4 February 2012 . dead.
  6. Web site: Ambassador Al Emadi Opens Grand Nuseirat Mosque in Gaza Strip . 2 May 2018 . Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs . 19 October 2023 . 17 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231117001507/https://mofa.gov.qa/en/all-mofa-news/details/2018/05/02/ambassador-al-emadi-opens-grand-nuseirat-mosque-in-gaza-strip . live.
  7. News: Bombing Worshippers Inside a Mosque in Gaza – PHOTOS . 19 October 2023 . Palestine Chronicle . 19 October 2023 . 18 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240418000945/https://www.palestinechronicle.com/bombing-worshippers-inside-a-mosque-in-gaza-photos/ . live.
  8. News: 'Bombings everywhere': No escape for Gaza's displaced . France 24 . 2024-01-25 . 2024-04-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240407040334/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231117-bombings-everywhere-no-escape-for-gaza-s-displaced . live.
  9. News: Israeli bombing of Nuseirat refugee camp targets homes of medical staff . Middle East Eye . 2024-01-25 . 2024-01-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104204912/https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-bombing-nuseirat-refugee-camp-targets-homes-medical-staff?nid=316601&topic=Israel-Palestine%2520war&fid=489896#:~:text=Israeli%20bombing%20of%20Nuseirat%20refugee%20camp%20targets%20homes%20of%20medical%20staff,-21%20November%202023&text=An%20Israeli%20air%20strike%20on,Jazeera%20journalist%20on%20the%20ground. . live.
  10. Web site: Israeli attack kills 13 in Nuseirat refugee camp: Wafa . Al Jazeera . 3 December 2023 . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104201749/https://aje.io/h1s5og?update=2530525 . live.
  11. Web site: At least 65 Palestinians killed in intensified Israeli attacks on central, southern Gaza . Xinhua . 6 December 2023 . 25 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240325141710/https://english.news.cn/20231205/1e48aebb8b8e4bda9ea95ce58c812d67/c.html . live.
  12. Web site: Putin lands in Saudi Arabia to discuss conflict; 'heightened risk of atrocity crimes' in Gaza, says top UN official . The Guardian . 6 December 2023 . 17 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231217220023/https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/dec/06/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-palestinians-killed-gaza-strike-as-israeli-military-idf-fighting-khan-younis-news?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with%3Ablock-656ff4eb8f080207604bb2c2#block-656ff4eb8f080207604bb2c2 . live.
  13. Web site: Several killed in Israeli attacks in Nuseirat, Rafah and Deir el-Balah: Reports . Al Jazeera . 19 December 2023 . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104201434/https://aje.io/bxwakd?update=2565849 . live.
  14. Web site: Several killed in Nuseirat, Khan Younis . Al Jazeera . 22 December 2023 . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104201854/https://aje.io/4n1rfv?update=2572220 . live.
  15. Web site: Nuseirat attack survivor says house had more than 50 people inside . Al Jazeera . 23 December 2023 . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104201748/https://aje.io/cvvtyk?update=2574743 . live.
  16. Web site: Israeli bombing kills at least 18 Palestinians in Nuseirat camp: Wafa . Al Jazeera . 23 December 2023 . 4 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240104201229/https://aje.io/cvvtyk?update=2574650 . live.
  17. Web site: Multiple casualties reported in Israeli strike on central Gaza refugee camp . Al Jazeera . 29 December 2023 . 5 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205131317/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/29/israel-hamas-war-live-israel-kills-at-least-20-in-attack-on-rafah?update=2585539 . live.
  18. Web site: Dozens killed in new Israeli strikes on Gaza . Al Jazeera . 4 January 2024 . 25 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225215843/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/3/israel-hamas-war-live-hezbollah-vows-revenge-for-israeli-strike-on-beirut?update=2596648 . live.
  19. Web site: Israeli air attack on car in Nuseirat refugee camp kills five people . Al Jazeera . 5 January 2024 . 25 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225215842/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/4/israel-hamas-war-live-bloody-day-for-hezbollah-tensions-with-israel-soar?update=2597901 . live.
  20. Web site: New Israeli attack on Nuseirat refugee camp . Al Jazeera . 14 January 2024 . 21 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240121181612/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/13/israels-war-on-gaza-live-un-fears-mass-transfer-of-palestinians-from-gaza?update=2617607 . live.
  21. Web site: Seven killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza . Al Jazeera . 20 January 2024 . 5 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205131315/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/19/israels-war-on-gaza-live-us-support-for-israel-ironclad-despite-rebuff?update=2634527 . live.
  22. Web site: Several Palestinians killed in Beit Lahiya, Nuseirat refugee camp . Al Jazeera . 21 January 2024 . 25 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225220517/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/20/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israel-denied-70-of-aid-to-north-gaza-says-un?update=2635756 . live.
  23. News: 2023-10-18 . Gaza: drone footage shows aftermath of strike on Nuseirat refugee camp – video . 2024-01-25 . the Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077 . 2024-02-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205115141/https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2023/oct/18/gaza-drone-footage-shows-aftermath-of-strike-on-nuseirat-refugee-camp-video . live.
  24. Web site: Four children killed in Israeli strikes targeting a residential square in central Gaza . 2024-01-25 . 2024-05-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240503215647/http://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/141045 . live.
  25. Web site: Four hostages seized at Nova festival freed in Gaza raid . 2024-06-08 . www.bbc.com . en-GB.
  26. Web site: Hjelmgaard . Kim . Tran . Ken . Santucci . Jeanine . 2024-06-08 . Noa Argamani among 4 hostages rescued from Gaza, Israeli forces say: live updates . 2024-06-08 . USA TODAY . en-US.
  27. Web site: Graham-Harrison . Emma . 9 June 2024 . Outrage over 'massacre' in Gaza as Israel rescued four hostages . 9 June 2024 . The Guardian.
  28. Web site: 2024-06-15 . IDF faces increased scrutiny as more details come out in wake of deadly hostage rescue . 2024-06-16 . NBC News . en.
  29. News: Israel kills more than 200 in attack on central Gaza: Gov't Media Office . 8 June 2024 . Al Jazeera . en.
  30. Web site: Lubell . Maayan . Al-Mughrabi . Nidal . June 8, 2024 . Israel rescues four hostages in Gaza; Hamas says 210 Palestinians killed in Israeli assault . Reuters.
  31. Web site: An-Nusayrat Camp (Dayr al-Balah, Gasa-Streifen, Palästinensische Gebiete) - Einwohnerzahlen, Grafiken, Karte, Lage, Wetter und Web-Informationen . 2024-01-25 . www.citypopulation.de . 2024-01-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240125103627/https://www.citypopulation.de/de/palestine/gaza/dayr_al_balah/653065__an_nusayrat_camp/ . live.