Quick Facts About Am'ari Camp

The Nakba: Why Am'ari Camp Exists

Am'ari Camp was born from the Nakba (Arabic for "catastrophe"): the mass expulsion of Palestinians during the occupation of Palestine in 1948. Roughly 750,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes. In July 1948, tens of thousands of people were expelled from the cities of Lydda and Ramla and their surrounding villages, and walked east into the hills towards Ramallah. Some of them found shelter on a small plot of land south of al-Bireh, which became Am'ari Camp.

The Right of Return

The right of return is the central demand of Am'ari's refugees. It rests on several foundations in international law:

• UN General Assembly Resolution 194 (11 December 1948), paragraph 11, resolved that refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid to those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property.
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 13) affirms everyone's right to leave any country, including their own, and to return to it.
• UN General Assembly Resolution 3236 (1974) reaffirmed the "inalienable right" of Palestinians to return to their homes and property.

History of the Camp

From tents to cement (1949–1957)

The International Committee of the Red Cross set up the camp in 1949, providing tents for refugees within the municipal boundaries of al-Bireh, on land that UNRWA later leased from the Jordanian government. By 1957, all the tents had been replaced with cement-block shelters.

Under occupation (1967–1995)

The camp came under Israeli military rule with the occupation of the West Bank in 1967. Before the First Intifada, many families were able to move out to surrounding towns and villages, and the camp's people played an active part in the Intifada from 1987.

After Oslo

Under the Oslo Accords, Am'ari became part of Area A, under Palestinian Authority control. Despite this, Israeli forces continue to raid the camp and detain its residents frequently.

The Current Situation (2024–2026)

Raids on Am'ari have escalated since October 2023:

• March 2024: A 16-year-old boy was shot in the neck and chest during a dawn raid on the camp and died of his wounds.
• May 2024: Repeated dawn raids, with residents arrested.
• 26 October 2025: Israeli forces opened fire during a raid, wounding four people, one in the abdomen.
• 29 May and 22 August 2026: Further raids on the camp.
• 29 August 2026: During a dawn raid, a 15-year-old boy was shot in the back with live fire and a young man in the foot; two young men were arrested.

These raids come as the camps of Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams have been emptied of their residents since January 2025.

Origin of the Name

The camp takes its name from al-Am'ari, the name of the area of al-Bireh's lands on which it was built.

Location and Geography

Am'ari Camp lies in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate in the central West Bank, within the municipal boundaries of al-Bireh, about 2 km south of the city centre. It sits between the twin cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh and the Qalandia area to the south, close to the main road towards Jerusalem. The urban growth of the two cities has surrounded the camp on all sides.

Area

The camp covers only about 90–96 dunums (under 0.1 km²), making it one of the smallest camps in the West Bank. Its area has not changed since 1949, even as its registered population has grown several times over.

Villages of Origin

Am'ari's refugees come from the cities of Lydda, Ramla and Jaffa, and from villages including:

• Ramla district: Dayr Tarif, Bayt Nabala, Abu Shusha, Al-Na'ani, Saydun and Jimzu
• Jaffa district: Bayt Dajan

Population and Demographics

Note: Registered refugees are not the same as residents. Many refugees registered in Am'ari now live in Ramallah, al-Bireh and nearby towns, so the census, which counts only those living inside the camp, records fewer people.

Housing and Living Conditions

Like most West Bank camps, Am'ari suffers from overcrowding and poor sewage and water networks. Before the First Intifada, many families could move to nearby towns and villages, but the construction of the Wall, the expansion of Ramallah and rising property prices have made this unaffordable for most residents. The growing population places heavy pressure on services and infrastructure.

Economic Situation

Residents report rising unemployment, especially among young men, partly because of the sharp fall in Israeli work permits issued to camp residents, which were almost entirely halted after October 2023. Many residents work in Ramallah and al-Bireh, the centre of the Palestinian economy, in commerce, services and the public sector.

Social Life, Sport and Culture

Am'ari is known for its football team, which has won the Palestinian championship several times and has represented Palestine in regional and international competitions. The camp also hosts a popular theatre, a rare cultural space in a camp short of services. Several well-known Palestinian musicians and cultural figures grew up in the camp.

Education and Health

UNRWA runs two schools in the camp: a boys' school with about 1,250 pupils and a girls' school with about 970. Secondary students attend schools in Ramallah and al-Bireh. UNRWA also provides primary health care in the camp, while residents rely on the Palestine Medical Complex and other hospitals in Ramallah for advanced care.

Frequently Asked Questions About Am'ari Camp

Conclusion

Am'ari began as a cluster of Red Cross tents for the expelled people of Lydda, Ramla and Jaffa, and grew into one of the smallest and most crowded camps in the West Bank, surrounded by the expanding cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh. Despite overcrowding, unemployment and repeated raids, it has remained a home of sport, theatre and steadfast commitment to the right of return.