Jenin Refugee Camp

Basic Information

Type

Refugee Camp

Governorate

Jenin

Region

West Bank - Northern

Overview

Jenin Refugee Camp (Arabic: مخيم جنين) is one of the largest and most historically significant refugee camps in the West Bank, located adjacent to Jenin city in the northern West Bank. Established by UNRWA in 1953 on 0.42 km² of land, the camp was built to house approximately 2,500 refugees who were forcibly expelled from Haifa, Acre, and coastal villages during the 1948 Nakba. Today, the camp's population has grown to approximately 14,000 registered refugees living in one of the most densely populated places on earth (over 33,000 people per km²). Jenin Camp became internationally known as the 'Martyr's Capital' after the devastating Israeli invasion of April 2002 (Operation Defensive Shield), when Israeli forces bombarded the camp, demolished hundreds of homes, killed 52 Palestinians, and destroyed much of the camp's infrastructure. The camp was also the birthplace of the Jenin Freedom Theatre, a beacon of cultural resistance. Since 2023, the camp has faced renewed and intensified Israeli military incursions, drone strikes, and home demolitions.

Historical Significance

The 'Martyr's Capital' — site of the 2002 Battle of Jenin, one of the most devastating Israeli military operations in the West Bank; birthplace of the Jenin Freedom Theatre; symbol of Palestinian resistance and resilience.

Sources and record limitations

Source detail varies by record. Some entries include document and page references; others supply source names only. Check the cited material and the record's limitations before relying on a specific claim.

• PCBS
• UNRWA
• ARIJ
• UN OCHA
• PASSIA
• B'Tselem
• Palestinian municipal records
• Jenin Freedom Theatre

Population figures vary significantly between sources. PCBS gives 10,417 (2007); UN estimates 14,000+ currently. 24,239 registered refugees vs fewer actual residents.