Background JaBaliya refugee camp
The following is extracted from BADIL's
website and provides background information on the Jabaliya
Refugee Camp, which has been under attack by Zionist occupation
forces since 28 September 2004. To donate to The Emergency
Gaza Relief Fund, please go to http://www.al-awdacal.org/alert-Gaza_Relief.html
Jabaliya Refugee Camp
Jabaliya refugee camp is one of 8 refugee
camps in the Gaza Strip. The camp was established in 1948
to provide temporary shelter for 35,000 Palestinian Arab
refugees seeking safe refuge from the war in Palestine.
Residents of the camp originate from villages in southern
Palestine which is now part of 'Israel'.
Jabaliya is also the largest Palestinian
refugee camp established after 1948. More than 100,000 Palestinian
refugees live in the camp. The densely populated built-up
camp is only 1.4 sq. km. It is characterized by narrow alleys
and pathways, and concrete and cinderblock shelters. The
camp is located beside the village of Jabaliya.
The first Palestinian uprising (intifada)
against Israel’s military occupation began in Jabaliya
refugee camp in December 1987.
Still refugees after more than
56 years
All around the world refugees and displaced
persons have the right to return to their homes and villages
of origin after the cessation of hostilities. The United
Nations reaffirmed this principle for Palestinian refugees
in General Assembly Resolution 194(III), on 11 December
1948. The resolution says that refugees should be able to
return to their homes at the earliest possible date and
receive compensation.
Israel remains opposed to the return of
the refugees because it considers Israel as a state for
Jews. In other words, the refugees cannot return primarily
because of their ethnic, national and religious origins.
To prevent their return, Israel has expropriated refugee
properties and adopted legislation which effectively disqualifies
Palestinian refugees from acquiring citizenship and residence
in Israel and from repossessing their properties.
Refugee camps are protected spaces
Attacks on refugee camps and refugee-populated
areas violate international humanitarian, human rights and
refugee law. Under the Fourth Geneva Conventions and the
two Protocols to the Conventions, the Parties to a conflict,
including the Occupying Power, must ensure respect for and
protection of the civilian population.
Attacks on civilians, including refugees,
are expressly prohibited. Destruction of real or personal
property by the Occupying Power is also expressly prohibited.
Destruction of objects indispensable to the survival of
the civilian population is prohibited. It is important to
note that the presence of an individual combatant within
a civilian population, including refugee camps, does not
deprive the population of its civilian status.
On 5 October 2004 the UN Security Council
considered a draft resolution demanding the immediate cessation
of all military operations in the areas of Northern Gaza
and the withdrawal of Israeli occupying forces from that
area. The resolution condemned all acts of violence, terror,
and the excessive use of force and physical destruction.
The United States vetoed the resolution.
Useful Links:
UNRWA
Profile of Jabaliya refugee camp
Physical
Protection for Refugee Populated Areas (BADIL Bulletin No.
6)
US
Voting Record in the Security Council on the Issue of Palestine |
