From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jabalia (Arabic: جباليا) is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in existence. The camp had a registered population of 103,646 inhabitants on June 30, 2002, and is located at the northern end of the Gaza Strip, close to the Israeli border and a village with the same name. The camp only covers an area of 1.4 km² making it one of the most densely populated places on earth. The First Intifada in December 1987 began in Jabalia. The camp has been the scene of much violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is also considered a major stronghold of the Hamas movement.

Jabalia is known for its fertile soil and citrus trees. The Mamluk ruler Alam ad-Din Sangar al-Gawli ruled the area in the 1300s and donated land for the Omeri Mosque that anchors the village. No structures from the ancient part of the mosque remain, except the portico and minaret. The rest of the mosque is of modern construction. The portico consists of three arcades supported by four stone columns. The arcades have pointed arches and the portico is covered by crossing vaults. Recently, a cemetery dating to the Byzantine and Roman periods and a mosaic floor of a church dating to the Byzantine period were excavated. The floor is decorated with drawings of wild animals, birds, plants, trees and written scripts.

The name of the village Beit Lahia, located just north of Jabalia, is derived from the Syriac language words for “desert” or “fatigue”. The village is known for its fresh, sweet water, berries and citrus trees. It has an ancient hill and nearby abandoned village ruins. A mihrab, or mosque alcove indicating the direction of salaah (prayer), is all that remains of an ancient mosque to the west of Beit Lahia dating to the Ayubbi period of Saladin, and two other mosques dating to the Ottoman period.

In late 2006 it was the scene of a mass protest against Israeli attacks when a large number of people formed a human shield to protect a house which was about to be demolished by Israeli forces.

• UNRWA Jabalia