Nuseirat Camp: A History of Suffering and Resistance

Nuseirat Camp is one of the eight refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, home to more than 80,000 Palestinians who were displaced from their original villages in 1948. The camp has witnessed several Israeli attacks over the years, most notably in 2014, when more than 100 people were killed and hundreds of homes were destroyed. The camp is also known for its resistance against the Israeli occupation, as many fighters and leaders of Palestinian factions have emerged from its alleys.

The Latest Attack: A Mosque and a Family Demolished

On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, Israeli warplanes launched several airstrikes on different parts of the Gaza Strip, including Nuseirat Camp. One of the targets was a mosque in the center of the camp, which was completely demolished by two missiles.

The mosque was adjacent to a residential building, where a family of seven lived. The family members were all killed by the blast, except for one child who survived with serious injuries. The family was identified as the Al-Dahdouh family, relatives of Wael Al-Dahdouh, a prominent journalist working for Al Jazeera.

The Reaction: Condemnation and Solidarity

The attack on Nuseirat Camp sparked widespread condemnation and outrage from Palestinian factions, human rights organizations, and international bodies. Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, called the attack a “barbaric crime” and vowed to retaliate. The Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, denounced the attack as a “violation of international law” and urged the international community to intervene.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which operates in Nuseirat Camp, expressed its “deep sorrow” and “strongest possible protest” over the attack, which damaged several of its facilities and endangered its staff. The attack also triggered a wave of solidarity from journalists around the world, who expressed their support for Wael Al-Dahdouh and his colleagues at Al Jazeera.

The Context: A Cycle of Violence and Impunity

The attack on Nuseirat Camp is part of a larger escalation of violence between Israel and Gaza, which has been ongoing since August 2023. The escalation was triggered by Israel’s assassination of a senior Hamas commander in Gaza, which prompted Hamas to fire rockets at Israel. Since then, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on Gaza, killing dozens of civilians and injuring hundreds more.

Gaza has also suffered from a severe humanitarian crisis, as Israel has imposed a blockade on the coastal enclave for more than 15 years, restricting the movement of people and goods. Despite repeated calls for a ceasefire and a political solution, the international community has failed to stop the bloodshed or hold Israel accountable for its violations of human rights and international law.

 

FAQs

Q: What is the name of the journalist who lost his family in the Israeli attack on Nuseirat Camp?

A: The journalist’s name is Wael Al-Dahdouh, and he works for Al Jazeera.

Q: How many people were killed and injured in the Israeli airstrike on Nuseirat Camp on October 31, 2023?

A: According to the article, the Israeli airstrike killed seven people and injured one child from the same family. The article does not mention the total number of casualties in the camp, but it says that several UNRWA facilities were damaged and its staff were endangered.

Q: What was the target of the Israeli missiles that destroyed the mosque and the residential building in Nuseirat Camp?

A: The article does not specify the exact target of the Israeli missiles, but it suggests that it was part of a larger escalation of violence between Israel and Gaza, which has been ongoing since August 2023. The article also mentions that Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes on Gaza, killing dozens of civilians and injuring hundreds more.