Nuseirat refugee camp

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.

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.

2000s

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

Gaza war

Main article: Attacks on refugee camps in the Gaza war#Nuseirat, Nuseirat rescue and massacre

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, subsequently the attacks continued causing more than a hundred victims.

On 8 June 2024, the IDF and Yamam rescued four Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Nuseirat, including Noa Argamani, during a rescue operation. An IDF spokesperson claimed 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. The operation took place in two sites in Nuseirat, where the hostages were kept, a school and a marketplace.

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. 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

References

References

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6. (2 May 2018). "Ambassador Al Emadi Opens Grand Nuseirat Mosque in Gaza Strip".
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22. "Several Palestinians killed in Beit Lahiya, Nuseirat refugee camp".
23. (2023-10-18). "Gaza: drone footage shows aftermath of strike on Nuseirat refugee camp – video". the Guardian.
24. "Four children killed in Israeli strikes targeting a residential square in central Gaza".
25. "Four hostages seized at Nova festival freed in Gaza raid".
26. (2024-06-08). "Noa Argamani among 4 hostages rescued from Gaza, Israeli forces say: live updates".
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28. (2024-06-15). "IDF faces increased scrutiny as more details come out in wake of deadly hostage rescue".
29. "Israel kills more than 200 in attack on central Gaza: Gov't Media Office". Al Jazeera.
30. (June 8, 2024). "Israel rescues four hostages in Gaza; Hamas says 210 Palestinians killed in Israeli assault".
31. Balmer, Crispian. (2025-07-13). "Israeli missile hits Gaza children collecting water, IDF blames malfunction".
32. Abualouf, Rushdi. (2025-07-13). "Gaza officials say children killed in strike as Israeli military admits 'error'".
33. "An-Nusayrat Camp (Dayr al-Balah, Gasa-Streifen, Palästinensische Gebiete) - Einwohnerzahlen, Grafiken, Karte, Lage, Wetter und Web-Informationen".