Nuseirat Refugee Camp

Nuseirat Camp is the third-largest refugee camp in Palestine, after Jabalia and Shati Camps. It was established in 1948, and at the time of its establishment, the camp covered an area of approximately 588 dunams. It is located in the central Gaza Strip, within the “Central Governorate,” southwest of Gaza City and along the Mediterranean coast. The camp is approximately 2.5 kilometers from Deir al-Balah and 10 kilometers from Gaza City. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Wadi Gaza to the north, Al-Zawaida village to the south, and Bureij Refugee Camp to the east. The camp lies approximately 25–30 meters above sea level. It takes its name from a Bedouin village that previously existed in the area.

The camp's terrain is predominantly flat, with extensive sand dunes, particularly in the areas along the coast, where olive trees and grapevines are cultivated.

Nuseirat Camp had a population of approximately 16,000 people when it was established. The population rose to around 17,600 in 1967 and reached approximately 28,200 in 1987. According to estimates by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the camp's population stood at approximately 37,093 people in mid-2023.

Before the Nakba, the site of the camp served as a military detention facility during the period of the British Mandate. Following the Nakba in 1948, approximately 16,000 refugees arrived in the area, most of them from the Beersheba and Ashdod areas, as well as from Ashkelon and villages in southern Palestine.

Nuseirat Camp is home to a number of archaeological and historical landmarks, including “Tell Amer,” an archaeological site containing the remains of a Byzantine city or church that was discovered in 1995. There is also “Tell Ajjul,” an archaeological site where a number of ancient remains have been found, located near Wadi Gaza. Other sites include “Al-Shubabi Cemetery,” which is considered to be very ancient, and “Tell Abu Hussein.” The area also contains an ancient archaeological site where old coins known as “Sahtatit” have been discovered; the term refers to very old forms of currency.