Deir al-Balah Refugee Camp

Deir al-Balah Refugee Camp is located along the Mediterranean coast, in the central Gaza Strip, west of the city of Deir al-Balah. The camp originally covered an area of approximately 156 dunams, which was later reduced to 123 dunams. It is bordered to the north by Nuseirat Camp, approximately 5 kilometers away, and to the south by the city of Khan Younis, also about 5 kilometers away.

The name “Deir al-Balah Camp” derives from the city of Deir al-Balah, whose name is traditionally associated with the establishment of the first monastery in Palestine on its land. The monastery was founded by Saint Hilarion, who was buried in the eastern part of the city. The city was also known for the abundance of palm trees surrounding it, which is reflected in its name, meaning “Monastery of Dates.”

The camp was established after the Nakba as a temporary settlement for approximately 9,000 refugees. Initially, mud-brick shelters were used to accommodate the refugees, which were later replaced by concrete structures in the early 1960s.

According to estimates by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the camp had approximately 8,161 residents in mid-2023, making it the smallest of the eight refugee camps in the Gaza Strip.

The majority of Deir al-Balah Camp's residents are refugees originally from the Gaza District, including those from Ashkelon, Al-Sudud, Al-Jura, the eastern, western, and northern parts of Al-Sawafir, Bayt Jirja, Beersheba, Barbara, Hamama, Kartiyaa, and Kawkaba. A smaller number originated from the districts of Lydda and Jaffa.