Maghazi refugee camp

History

In early 1949 Quaker aid workers visited Maghazi and reported that there were 2,500 refugees camped on privately owned land. They were living in Bedouin and Egyptian army tents as well the British army barracks. Most of the refugees had come from eight villages including Yasur, Qastina, Al-Batani al-Sharqi, Al-Batani al-Gharbi and Al-Maghar.

Population

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the camp had a population of 18,157 in 2017 and the surrounding Maghazi municipality had a population of 9,670. In July 2023, the United Nations agency UNRWA reported that its population was 33,000.

During the Gaza war, population surged to 100,000 as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) ordered Gaza residents to flee to the south.

Income

Before the Gaza Strip's closure to Israel in 2000 following the Al-Aqsa Intifada, most residents had taken a number of various jobs in Israel or worked as farmers at local tells and pastures. There is a weekly souk, or open-air market, on Sunday in which residents buy or sell goods from their workshops, bakeries, cafes, diners and grocery lots.

As of 2023 there were around 30 municipality workers.

Education

Maghazi has three elementary schools and 2 junior high schools run by the UNRWA. 6,407 pupils had enrolled at these schools in the 2004-2005 year. In 1998, the UNRWA provided integrated educational services to 1,264 children with disabilities. There are a number of youth activities that involve in athletics, social and cultural programs.

One UNRWA school was bombed by the IDF in 2023. Another two were used to house around 25,000 displaced Palestinians during the Gaza war.

Raids and warfare

Main article: Israeli attacks on Al-Maghazi refugee camp, Attacks on refugee camps in the Gaza war

On the evening of Monday 6 January 2003, the IDF raided the camp, killed three Palestinians and wounded dozens, saying they were targeting militants hiding there.

In 2023, the camp was struck by Israeli airstrikes on 17 October, 5 November, 6 December and 24 December. Bombing destroyed the only bakery in the camp. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the 5 November airstrikes killed 50 people and the 24 December airstrikes killed 70 people. Refugees in the camp faced disease epidemics, blockades preventing the import of food, water and sanitary products, and blocked access to landfill sites. Two of its seven wells were bombed, while the others were inoperable as fuel could not be imported.

On August 7, 2024 an Israeli raid on the camp killed two people, and injured dozens.

Footnotes

References

1. Gallagher, Nancy (2007) "Quakers in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The Dilemmas of NGO Humanitarian Activism" The American University in Cairo Press. {{ISBN. 977-416-105-X p 75
2. (February 2018). "Preliminary Results of the Population, Housing and Establishments Census, 2017". [[State of Palestine]].
3. "MAGHAZI CAMP".
4. "Question of the Violation of Human Rights in the Occupied Arab Territories Including Palestine".
5. K, S.. "Gaza: UNRWA School Sheltering Displaced Families is Hit".
6. "Israel-Hamas war: List of key events, day 62".
7. (2023-11-05). "At least 45 killed at Al-Maghazi refugee camp".
8. (2023-12-25). "Israeli airstrike kills at least 70 in Al-Maghazi refugee camp, Gaza officials say".
9. Ahmed, Kaamil. (2023-10-28). "Airstrikes on Gaza bakeries add to 'catastrophic' food shortages". The Guardian.
10. Mousa, Aseel. "'We are facing a disaster', Mayor of Gaza's Maghazi camp warns".
11. "Israeli air strike kills at least 70 Palestinians in central Gaza refugee camp, health officials say".
12. "'Massacre' as Israel steps up Gaza bombardment for Christmas".
13. (2023-12-24). "At least 70 killed in Israeli strike on refugee camp in central Gaza, health ministry says". The Guardian.
14. (2023-12-25). "At least 70 dead after strike at al-Maghazi refugee camp in Gaza, Health Ministry says".
15. (August 7, 2024). "Six Palestinians killed, others injured in Israeli raids on Khan Younis, Maghazi camp".