Khan Yunis Camp

Basic Information

Type

Refugee Camp

Governorate

Khan Yunis

Region

Gaza Strip

Overview

Khan Yunis Camp is one of Gaza's eight official UNRWA refugee camps, located just west of Khan Yunis city and 2 km from the Mediterranean coast. Established after the 1948 Nakba when 35,000 refugees — ethnically cleansed from towns and villages in southern Palestine including Lydd, Ramleh, Yibna, Isdud, and Majdal — were crowded into tents. The camp is infamous as the site of the 1956 Khan Yunis massacre: on November 3-4, 1956, during the Suez Crisis, Israeli forces occupied Khan Yunis and executed 275 Palestinians in house-to-house killings, including 140 refugees in the camp. Many victims were shot in front of their families. The massacre is commemorated annually and remains a defining trauma for the camp's residents. By 2023, the camp housed 87,048 UNRWA registered refugees in approximately 0.9 sq km. During the 2023-2026 war, the camp was heavily damaged as Khan Yunis became a primary destination for displaced persons from northern Gaza, then itself was invaded.

Historical Significance

UNRWA refugee camp since 1948; site of 1956 Khan Yunis massacre (275 Palestinians executed by Israeli forces, including 140 refugees); adjacent to Nasser Hospital; 87,048 registered refugees 2023; heavily damaged in 2023-2026 war

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 2017 Census
• UNRWA Khan Yunis Camp Profile
• B'Tselem — 1956 Khan Yunis Massacre
• UN OCHA Gaza Reports
• Wikipedia

Created 1948 for Nakba refugees. Still exists 76 years later. Site of 1956 massacre. 87,048 registered refugees in ~0.9 sq km. Heavily damaged 2023-2026.