Nuseirat refugee camp
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Nuseirat Camp
{{lang|ar|مخيّم النصيرات}}
| translit_lang1 =
| translit_lang1_type =
| translit_lang1_info =
| type = Refugee camp
| image_skyline = Nuseirat - panoramio.jpg
| image_caption = Nuseirat in 2010
| pushpin_map = Palestine
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Nuseirat camp within Palestine
| image_map = Nuseirat, Maghazi and Bureij refugee camps in the OCHA OpT September 2023 map of the Gaza Strip.png
| map_caption = Map of the camp, as well as the two other adjacent camps of Bureij and Maghazi
| coordinates = {{coord|31|26|51|N|34|23|34|E|region:PS|display=inline,title}}
| grid_name = Palestine grid
| grid_position =
| subdivision_type = State
| subdivision_name = State of Palestine
| subdivision_type1 = Governorate
| subdivision_name1 = Deir al-Balah
| established_title = Founded
| established_date =
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = Refugee Camp
| leader_title = Control
| leader_name = {{flagicon|Hamas}} Hamas
| unit_pref = dunam
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_total_dunam =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_min_m =
| elevation_max_m =
| population_footnotes = {{cite report |date=February 2018 |title=Preliminary Results of the Population, Housing and Establishments Census, 2017 |url=https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Downloads/book2364-1.pdf |department=Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) |publisher=State of Palestine |pages=64–82 |access-date=2023-10-24 |archive-date=2023-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704174803/https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Downloads/book2364-1.pdf |url-status=live}}
| 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
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Nuseirat Camp ({{langx|ar|مخيّم النصيرات}}) is a Palestinian refugee camp located in the middle of the Gaza Strip,{{Cite web |title=Nuseirat Camp |url=https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/gaza-strip/nuseirat-camp |access-date=2024-01-07 |archive-date=2019-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616180514/https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/gaza-strip/nuseirat-camp |url-status=live}} 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.{{cite book |last1=Brooks Hedstrom |first1=Darlene L. |editor1-last=Pettegrew |editor1-first=David K. |editor2-last=Caraher |editor2-first=William R. |editor3-last=Davis |editor3-first=Thomas W. |title=The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Archaeology |date=2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-936904-1 |page=156 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uWR7DwAAQBAJ |access-date=5 February 2024 |language=en |chapter=The Archaeology of Early Monastic Communities |archive-date=6 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606211821/https://www.google.es/books/edition/The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Early_Christian_A/uWR7DwAAQBAJ |url-status=live}}{{cite book |author1=Hirschfeld, Yizhar |author1-link=Yizhar Hirschfeld |editor1-last=Bitton-Ashkelony |editor1-first=Brouria |editor2-last=Kofsky |editor2-first=Arieh |title=Christian Gaza In Late Antiquity |date=1 January 2004 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-13868-1 |pages=76–77 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lA9VwVwoyiAC |access-date=5 February 2024 |language=en |chapter=The Monasteries of Gaza: an archaeological review |archive-date=6 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106200132/https://www.google.es/books/edition/Christian_Gaza_In_Late_Antiquity/lA9VwVwoyiAC |url-status=live}}
=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.{{cite web |title=Nuseirat refugee camp |url=http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=83 |website=UNRWA |publisher=United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees |access-date=5 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204154516/http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=83 |archive-date=4 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}
=2000s=
In May 2018 a mosque, the Grand Nuseirat Mosque, was opened by the Qatari envoy to Gaza, Mohammed Al Emadi.{{cite web |title=Ambassador Al Emadi Opens Grand Nuseirat Mosque in Gaza Strip |date=2 May 2018 |website=Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs |url=https://mofa.gov.qa/en/all-mofa-news/details/2018/05/02/ambassador-al-emadi-opens-grand-nuseirat-mosque-in-gaza-strip |access-date=19 October 2023 |archive-date=17 November 2023 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live}}
== Gaza war ==
{{main|Attacks on refugee camps in the Gaza war#Nuseirat|Nuseirat rescue and massacre}}
{{See also|Al-Sardi school attack}}
The Nuseirat refugee camp has been bombed repeatedly since the start of the Gaza war. On 18 October 2023 the Grand Nuseirat Mosque was bombed and destroyed by Israeli airstrikes,{{cite news |title=Bombing Worshippers Inside a Mosque in Gaza – PHOTOS |date=19 October 2023 |newspaper=Palestine Chronicle |url=https://www.palestinechronicle.com/bombing-worshippers-inside-a-mosque-in-gaza-photos/ |access-date=19 October 2023 |archive-date=18 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418000945/https://www.palestinechronicle.com/bombing-worshippers-inside-a-mosque-in-gaza-photos/ |url-status=live}} subsequently the attacks continued causing more than a hundred victims.{{cite news |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231117-bombings-everywhere-no-escape-for-gaza-s-displaced |title='Bombings everywhere': No escape for Gaza's displaced |publisher=France 24 |access-date=2024-01-25 |archive-date=2024-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407040334/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231117-bombings-everywhere-no-escape-for-gaza-s-displaced |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=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. |title=Israeli bombing of Nuseirat refugee camp targets homes of medical staff |publisher=Middle East Eye |access-date=2024-01-25 |archive-date=2024-01-04 |archive-url=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. |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Israeli attack kills 13 in Nuseirat refugee camp: Wafa |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/3/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-bombards-gaza-as-talks-break-down?update=2530525 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=3 December 2023 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106122946/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/3/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-bombards-gaza-as-talks-break-down?update=2530525 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=At least 65 Palestinians killed in intensified Israeli attacks on central, southern Gaza |url=https://english.news.cn/20231205/1e48aebb8b8e4bda9ea95ce58c812d67/c.html |website=Xinhua |access-date=6 December 2023 |archive-date=25 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325141710/https://english.news.cn/20231205/1e48aebb8b8e4bda9ea95ce58c812d67/c.html |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Putin lands in Saudi Arabia to discuss conflict; 'heightened risk of atrocity crimes' in Gaza, says top UN official |url=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:block-656ff4eb8f080207604bb2c2#block-656ff4eb8f080207604bb2c2 |website=The Guardian |access-date=6 December 2023 |archive-date=17 December 2023 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Several killed in Israeli attacks in Nuseirat, Rafah and Deir el-Balah: Reports |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/18/israel-hamas-war-live-israeli-strikes-on-jabalia-refugee-camp-kill-90?update=2565849 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=19 December 2023 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106124900/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/18/israel-hamas-war-live-israeli-strikes-on-jabalia-refugee-camp-kill-90?update=2565849 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Several killed in Nuseirat, Khan Younis |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/21/israel-hamas-war-live-global-condemnation-as-gaza-death-toll-hits-20000?update=2572220 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=22 December 2023 }}{{cite web |title=Nuseirat attack survivor says house had more than 50 people inside |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/22/israel-hamas-war-live-un-security-council-to-vote-on-gaza-resolution?update=2574743 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=23 December 2023 |archive-date=25 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225010356/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/22/israel-hamas-war-live-un-security-council-to-vote-on-gaza-resolution?update=2574743 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Israeli bombing kills at least 18 Palestinians in Nuseirat camp: Wafa |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/22/israel-hamas-war-live-un-security-council-to-vote-on-gaza-resolution?update=2574650 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=23 December 2023 |archive-date=23 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223034527/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/22/israel-hamas-war-live-un-security-council-to-vote-on-gaza-resolution?update=2574650 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Multiple casualties reported in Israeli strike on central Gaza refugee camp |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/29/israel-hamas-war-live-israel-kills-at-least-20-in-attack-on-rafah?update=2585539 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=29 December 2023 |archive-date=5 February 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Dozens killed in new Israeli strikes on Gaza |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/3/israel-hamas-war-live-hezbollah-vows-revenge-for-israeli-strike-on-beirut?update=2596648 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=4 January 2024 |archive-date=25 February 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Israeli air attack on car in Nuseirat refugee camp kills five people |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/4/israel-hamas-war-live-bloody-day-for-hezbollah-tensions-with-israel-soar?update=2597901 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=5 January 2024 |archive-date=25 February 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=New Israeli attack on Nuseirat refugee camp |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/13/israels-war-on-gaza-live-un-fears-mass-transfer-of-palestinians-from-gaza?update=2617607 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=14 January 2024 |archive-date=21 January 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Seven killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/19/israels-war-on-gaza-live-us-support-for-israel-ironclad-despite-rebuff?update=2634527 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=20 January 2024 |archive-date=5 February 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Several Palestinians killed in Beit Lahiya, Nuseirat refugee camp |url=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 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=21 January 2024 |archive-date=25 February 2024 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=2023-10-18 |title=Gaza: drone footage shows aftermath of strike on Nuseirat refugee camp – video |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2023/oct/18/gaza-drone-footage-shows-aftermath-of-strike-on-nuseirat-refugee-camp-video |access-date=2024-01-25 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=2024-02-05 |archive-url=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 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |date= |title=Four children killed in Israeli strikes targeting a residential square in central Gaza |url=https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/141045 |access-date=2024-01-25 |archive-date=2024-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503215647/http://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/141045 |url-status=live}}{{Citation overkill|date=June 2025}}
On 8 June 2024, the IDF and Yamam rescued four Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Nuseirat, including Noa Argamani, during a rescue operation.{{Cite web |title=Four hostages seized at Nova festival freed in Gaza raid |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd11z2j34k4o |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last1=Hjelmgaard |first1=Kim |last2=Tran |first2=Ken |last3=Santucci |first3=Jeanine |date=2024-06-08 |title=Noa Argamani among 4 hostages rescued from Gaza, Israeli forces say: live updates |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2024/06/08/israeli-forces-hostages-gaza/74025593007/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} An IDF spokesperson stated that the hostages were guarded by armed terrorists 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.{{Cite web |last=Graham-Harrison |first=Emma |date=9 June 2024 |title=Outrage over 'massacre' in Gaza as Israel rescued four hostages |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/09/israel-gaza-hostages-rescue-eu-outrage |access-date=9 June 2024 |website=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |date=2024-06-15 |title=IDF faces increased scrutiny as more details come out in wake of deadly hostage rescue |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hostage-rescue-what-we-know-rcna156937 |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=NBC News |language=en}} The operation took place in two sites in Nuseirat, where the hostages were kept, a school and a marketplace.{{cite news |title=Israel kills more than 200 in attack on central Gaza: Gov't Media Office |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/8/many-casualties-as-israel-escalates-attacks-across-gaza |access-date=8 June 2024 |work=Al Jazeera |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Lubell |first1=Maayan |last2=Al-Mughrabi |first2=Nidal |date=June 8, 2024 |title=Israel rescues four hostages in Gaza; Hamas says 210 Palestinians killed in Israeli assault |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-rescues-four-hostages-gaza-palestinians-say-50-dead-israeli-assault-2024-06-08/ |website=Reuters}}
The IDF killed at least 10 civilians and injured at least 16 in a missile strike on a water distribution point on July 13, 2025.{{cite web | last=Balmer | first=Crispian | title=Israeli missile hits Gaza children collecting water, IDF blames malfunction | website=Reuters | date=2025-07-13 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-missile-hits-gaza-children-collecting-water-idf-blames-malfunction-2025-07-13/ | access-date=2025-07-13}}{{cite web | last=Abualouf | first=Rushdi | title=Gaza officials say children killed in strike as Israeli military admits 'error' | website=BBC Home | date=2025-07-13 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rvxjnvv71o | access-date=2025-07-13}} Six of the dead and seven of the wounded were children. The Israeli military stated the missile missed its intended target dozens of meters because of a "technical error".
Population
class="wikitable"
|+ !Census year |
2007
|28,093 |
2017
|31,747 |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.unrwa.org/tags.php?tag_id=51 Nuseirat] articles from UNWRA
- [http://www.palestineremembered.com/GeoPoints/al_Nusayrat_R_C__2326/index.html Welcome To al-Nusayrat R.C.]
{{Deir al-Balah Governorate}}
{{Palestinian refugee camps}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Palestinian refugee camps in the Gaza Strip