Jabalia Explained

Jabalia
Native Name:Arabic: جباليا
Translit Lang1:Arabic
Translit Lang1 Type:Arabic
Translit Lang1 Info:Arabic: جباليا
Translit Lang1 Type1:Latin
Translit Lang1 Info1:Jabalya (official)
Type:Municipality type A (City)
Pushpin Map:Palestine
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of Jabalia within Palestine
Coordinates:31.5281°N 34.4831°W
Grid Name:Palestine grid
Grid Position:100/103
Subdivision Type:State
Subdivision Name:State of Palestine
Subdivision Type1:Governorate
Subdivision Name1:North Gaza
Established Title:Founded
Government Type:City
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:M. Mazen Al-Abd Al-Najjar
Unit Pref:dunam
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:172704
Population As Of:2017
Population Density Km2:auto
Blank Name Sec1:Name meaning
Blank Info Sec1:"The mountaineers"[2]
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Zoom:11
Mapframe-Wikidata:yes

Jabalia, also spelled Jabalya (ar|جباليا), is a city in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, located 4km (02miles) north of Gaza City, in the North Gaza Governorate of the Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Jabalia had a population of 172,704 in 2017. In addition to Jabalia, the city municipality contains the Jabalia refugee camp and the town of Nazla, the latter of which was an independent village council before being merged with Jabalia.[3]

History

From the 1st century CE to the 3rd century CE, during the Roman period, there was a cemetery in use at Jabalia; archaeologists named it the Ard-al-Moharbeen necropolis. The burials may have included high-status officials.[4] [5] [6]

During the Byzantine period, there was a church at Jabalia. The church was likely established in the 5th century and used into the 8th century. No contemporary settlement nearby had been identified, and the archaeologist Jean-Baptiste Humbert suggested that the church may have been part of a necropolis for Gaza. Byzantine ceramics have also been found in Jabalia.[7]

Jabalia was known for its fertile soil and citrus trees. The Mamluk Governor of Gaza Sanjar al-Jawli ruled the area in the early 14th century and endowed part of Jabalia's land to the al-Shamah Mosque he built in Gaza.

Until 2014, Jabalia also had the ancient Omari Mosque. The site was believed to have housed a mosque since the 7nth century, and its portico and minaret dated back to the 14th century, but the Omari was destroyed by Israeli bombings in 2014.[8] The portico consists of three arcades supported by four stone columns. The arcades have pointed arches and the portico is covered by crossing vaults.[9]

Ottoman period

Incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1517 with all of Palestine, Jabalia appeared in 1596 tax registers as being in the Nahiya of Gaza of the Liwa of Gazza. It had a population of 331 households, all Muslim, who paid taxes on wheat, barley, vine yards, and fruit trees; a total of 37,640 akçe. 2/3 of the revenue went to a waqf.[10]

In 1838, Edward Robinson noted Jebalia as a Muslim village, located in the Gaza district.[11]

In 1863, Victor Guérin found in the mosque fragments of old constructions, and at the well some broken columns.[12] He further noted: "This village, towards the west, borders on the dunes of the coast. It is surrounded, on the other three sides, by fertile gardens, separated from each other by hedges of cacti and other thorny shrubs. Cultivated with care, they are planted with fig, pomegranate, almond, apricot, lemon and orange trees. There are also a few apple trees. Residents go to sell their fruit in Gaza's various markets."[13]

An Ottoman village list from about 1870 found that the village had a population of 828, in a total of 254 houses, though the population count included men, only.[14] [15] In the Palestine Exploration Fund's 1883 Survey of Western Palestine, Jabalia was described as being a large adobe village, with gardens and a well on the northwest. It had a mosque named Jamia Abu Berjas.[16]

British Mandate era

In the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Jabalia had a population of 1,775 inhabitants, all Muslim,[17] increasing in the 1931 census to 2,425, still all Muslims, in 631 houses.[18] In the 1945 statistics, Jabalia had a population of 3,520, all Muslims,[19] with 11,497 dunams of land, according to an official land and population survey.[20] Of this, 138 dunams were for citrus and bananas, 1,009 for plantations and irrigable land, 1,036 for cereals,[21] while 101 dunams were built-up land.[22]

Post-1948

See also: 2004 Israeli operation in the northern Gaza Strip. The 1948 Arab–Israeli War led to 750,000 Palestinians being displaced. Refugee camps were established to house the displaced people, including one at Jabalia; the Jabalia camp mostly housed people from southern Palestine. In 1953 UNRWA began building the first permanent structures at the camp.[23] [24]

During the early months of First Intifada on 27 March 1989 Fares S'aid Falcha, aged 50, was beaten by Israeli soldiers. He died 3 weeks later in the Makassed Hospital. A report was compiled by the Military Police Investigators and details were passed on to the Chief Military Prosecutor.[25]

Reconstruction work on the Salah al-Din Road in 1996 led to the discovery of a Byzantine church at Jabalia and its excavation by Ayman Hassouna and Yasser Matar.In late 2006, Jabalia was the scene of mass protests against airstrikes on homes. Israel contacted the residences of several Hamas members who launched missiles at Israeli civilians from the houses, warning them of an airstrike within the next 30 minutes. Neighbors responded by forming a human shield and successfully stalled the demolition.[26] In 2021, seven people were killed by a Hamas rocket.

After a multi-year restoration project, the Byzantine church at Jabalia opened to the public in January 2022.[27] The following month a Roman cemetery was discovered during the construction of a housing project; archaeologists led by René Elter subsequently found 135 graves in what became known as the Ard-al-Moharbeen necropolis, making it the largest cemetery to have been discovered in Palestine.[28] [29]

Gaza war

See main article: Battle of Jabalia.

See also: 31 October 2023 Jabalia refugee camp airstrike and Jabalia refugee camp airstrikes (2023–present). The Jabalia refugee camp, which has been the target of multiple Israeli air strikes during the ongoing Gaza war, was struck again on 31 October.[30] The Israeli air-strike killed at least 50 Palestinians and trapped more than a hundred beneath the rubble, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.[31] The Indonesia Hospital said most casualties were women and children.[32] Gaza Interior Ministry stated the camp had been "completely destroyed," with preliminary estimates of about 400 wounded or dead.[33] IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that Israeli fighter jets attacked the refugee camp,[34] and stated that the attack killed a Hamas commander who led the October 7 attacks, dozens of Palestinian militants, and destroyed Palestinian tunnels.[35] Hamas said none of its commanders were present and that Israel was using these claims as an excuse for the attack.[36] On 4 November, the Al-Fakhoura School in Jabalia was struck; thousands of Palestinians were sheltering in the school and its yard.[37]

The Battle of Jabalia began on 8 November 2023 as part of the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, and ended its first phase in late January 2024 with an Israeli withdrawal.[38] Following this, Palestinian forces and the IDF intermittently clashed in Jabalia.[39] [40] [41] [42] [43] The mayor of Jabalia stated Israel had destroyed 75 percent of Jabalia's water wells by March 2024.[44]

A May 2024 IDF offensive into the city ended on 31 May 2024 with an IDF withdrawal after over two weeks of intense fighting and more than 200 airstrikes. Palestinian officials said that 70% of the refugee camp was destroyed. The Israeli military said that it had destroyed over 10 kilometers of underground tunnels that it says the militants used.[45] [46] The Israeli military also said that it had destroyed a number of weapons production sites and rocket launchers.[47] During the weeks-long operation, troops recovered the bodies of seven Israeli hostages.

Having failed to dismantle Hamas in Jabalia,[48] the IDF reinvaded the city after four months on 5 October 2024.[49]

After the 10 October 2025 ceasefire in Gaza, Hamas allegedly redeployed members in Jabalia and the refugee camp, where they supposedly launched a crackdown on the Israeli-backed and Popular Forces-affiliated Popular Army – Northern Forces (also known as the People's Army – Northern Forces), allegedly arresting and killing its members.[50] On 14 October 2025, the group's leader, Ashraf Al-Mansi, released a video where he denied the alleged Hamas crackdown. Al-Mansi proclaimed that PANF controls several areas in northern Gaza, and warned Hamas from entering their territory.[51]

Demographics

Jabalia's residents have various origins, including the Hauran, Egypt, and Bedouin communities, as well as people from Hebron and Jaffa.[52]

A number of male pseudohermaphrodite births have been reported in Jabalia. Jehad Abudaia, a Canadian-Palestinian pediatrician and urologist, has suggested that consanguinity due to cousin marriages accounts for the prevalence of pseudohermaphrodite births. In the Gaza Strip, pseudohermaphrodite conditions often go undetected for years after birth due to the region's lower standards of medical treatment and diagnostics.[53]

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the State of Palestine. Jabalia is twinned with:[54]

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. February 2018 . Preliminary Results of the Population, Housing and Establishments Census, 2017 . Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) . . 64–82 . 2023-10-24.
  2. Palmer, 1881, p. 360
  3. Urban planning analyses of refugee camps : Jabalia as case study - Gaza Strip, Palestine. 2015-11-08. en-US. Usama Ibrahim. Badawy. Ra’ed A.. Salha. Muain Qasem. Jawabrah. Amjad. Jarada. Mohammed A.. El-Hawajri.
  4. Web site: 23 September 2023. Roman-era graves unearthed during excavations in Gaza's Roman Cemetery. 1 December 2025. WAFA News Agency.
  5. News: Francis. Ellen. 25 July 2023. 125 tombs found after chance discovery of ancient Roman-era cemetery in Gaza. Washington Post. 1 December 2025.
  6. Web site: Elter . René . n° 037 – Nécropole romaine d'Ard-al-Moharbeen . fr . n° 037 – Roman necropolis of Ard-al-Moharbeen . Gaza Histoire, inventaire d'un patrimoine bombardé . 18 May 2025 . 17 February 2026.
  7. Dauphin, 1998, p. 883
  8. News: AFP . Long-neglected Gaza heritage wilts in war . 2022-12-16 . . en-US . 0040-7909.
  9. http://www.mideasttravelling.net/palestine/gaza/gaza_culture.htm Travel in Gaza
  10. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 144
  11. Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, Appendix 2, p. 118
  12. Guérin, 1869, pp. 175-176; as referred by Conder and Kitchener, 1883, SWP III, p. 251
  13. Guérin, 1869, pp. 176: "Ce village, vers l'ouest, touche aux dunes de la côte. Il est entouré, des trois autres côtés, de fertiles jardins, que separent entre eux des haies de cactus et d'autres arbustes épineux. Cultivés avec soin, ils sont plantés de figuiers, de grenadiers, d'amandiers, d'apricotiers, de citronniers et d'orangers. On y aperçoit aussi quelques pommiers. Les habitants vont vendre leurs fruits aux divers marchés de Gaza."
  14. Socin, 1879, p. 153
  15. Hartmann, 1883, p. 129, noted 253 houses
  16. Conder and Kitchener, 1883, SWP III, p. 236
  17. Barron, 1923, Table V, Sub-district of Gaza, p. 8
  18. Mills, 1932, p. 4
  19. Department of Statistics, 1945, p. 31
  20. Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 45
  21. Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 87
  22. Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 137
  23. A Spatial Biography of Jabalya Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Saleh. Shadi. 2019. The Arab World Geographer. 3. 22. De Meulder. Bruno. 170.
  24. News: Jabalia Camp. UNRWA. 2025-12-01. http://web.archive.org/web/20250530042953/https://www.unrwa.org/where-we-work/gaza-strip/jabalia-camp. 2025-05-30. en.
  25. Talmor, Ronny (translated by Ralph Mandel) (1990) The Use of Firearms - By the Security Forces in the Occupied Territories. B'Tselem. download p. 75 MK Yair Tsaban to defence ministers Yitzhak Rabin & Yitzhak Shamir, p.81 Rabin's reply
  26. News: Conal Urquhart in Tel Aviv . Palestinians use human shield to halt Israeli air strike on militants' homes World news . The Guardian . 2006-11-20. 2010-05-08 . London.
  27. Web site: 2022-01-26 . Byzantine-era church reopens in Gaza . 2025-11-23 . Middle East Monitor.
  28. News: Adwan. Issam. Archaeologists unearth the largest cemetery ever discovered in Gaza and find rare lead sarcophogi. AP News. 23 September 2023. 1 December 2025.
  29. Web site: n° 037 – Nécropole romaine d’Ard-al-Moharbeen. Gaza Histoire, inventaire d’un patrimoine bombardé. 14 March 2025. 1 December 2025. fr-FR. Elter. René.
  30. News: Mpoke Bigg . Matthew . Zraick . Karen . Boxerman . Aaron . Images of the Jabaliya refugee camp show a large crater and widespread damage. . The New York Times . 31 October 2023 . 31 October 2023.
  31. Web site: Rescue teams trying to evacuate people from under the rubble . Al Jazeera . 31 October 2023.
  32. News: Jabalia: Israel air strike reportedly kills dozens at Gaza refugee camp. BBC News. David Gritten.
  33. News: Jabalia refugee camp 'completely destroyed' . Al Jazeera . 31 October 2023.
  34. Web site: Israel Gaza live news: Dozens reported killed in Gaza refugee camp blast . 31 October 2023 . BBC News . 30 October 2023 . en-gb.
  35. News: Dozens reported killed in Gaza refugee camp blast . 1 November 2023 . BBC News . 30 October 2023 . en-gb.
  36. News: Al-Mughrabi . Nidal . Rose . Emily . Al-Mughrabi . Nidal . 31 October 2023 . Israel strikes dense Gaza camp, says it kills Hamas commander . en . Reuters . 1 November 2023.
  37. News: Arab leaders press Blinken for Gaza ceasefire after school blasts. Reuters. 2025-12-01. http://web.archive.org/web/20240817230938/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-arab-leaders-meet-over-gaza-palestinian-deaths-mount-2023-11-03/. 2024-08-17. en-US. Al-Mughrabi. Nidal. Lewis. Simon. Al-Khalidi. Suleiman. 2023-11-04.
  38. Web site: IRAN UPDATE, JANUARY 30, 2024 . 2024-07-24 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
  39. Web site: IRAN UPDATE, FEBRUARY 10, 2024 . 2024-07-24 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
  40. Web site: IRAN UPDATE, FEBRUARY 21, 2024 . 2024-07-24 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
  41. Web site: 4 March 2024 . Iran Update, March 4, 2024 .
  42. Web site: IRAN UPDATE, MARCH 9, 2024 . 2024-07-24 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
  43. Web site: IRAN UPDATE, APRIL 16, 2024 . 2024-07-24 . Institute for the Study of War . en.
  44. Web site: Israel has destroyed most water wells in Jabalia: Mayor. Al Jazeera. 12 March 2024.
  45. News: Mackenzie . James . 31 May 2024 . Israel completes combat operations in part of north Gaza, military says . 31 May 2024 . Reuters.
  46. Web site: Mohanna . Nagham . Aldroubi . Mina . 2024-05-31 . Israeli forces withdraw after 20-day operation destroys 70 per cent of Gaza's Jabalia camp . 2024-05-31 . The National . en.
  47. Web site: Gaza war: Israeli military says it has pulled out of Jabalia . 2024-06-14 . www.bbc.com . en-GB.
  48. Web site: Iran Update, May 31, 2024 . 2024-07-24 . Institute for the Study of War.
  49. Web site: 6 October 2024 . Dozens killed in Gaza as Israeli army launches new incursion in north . Reuters.
  50. News: 2025-10-12 . Hamas reappears on Gaza's streets, and two of three militias that fought it go quiet . 2025-10-13 . The Times of Israel . en-US . 0040-7909.
  51. News: Yohanan . Nurit . 2025-10-14 . Militia commander in northern Gaza: We have taken control of areas, call on Hamas to stay away . 2025-10-16 . The Times of Israel . en-US . 0040-7909.
  52. Grossman, D. (1986). "Oscillations in the Rural Settlement of Samaria and Judaea in the Ottoman Period". in Shomron studies. Dar, S., Safrai, S., (eds). Tel Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad Publishing House. p. 385
  53. Watson, Ivan. "Rare Gender Identity Defect Hits Gaza Families." CNN. December 17, 2009. Retrieved on December 17, 2009.
  54. Web site: Ümraniye Municipality and Palestine Jabalia Al Nazlah Municipality Has Become 'Sister Municipalities' With a Ceremony.. umraniye.bel.tr. Ümraniye. 2020-06-01. 2021-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20210823110624/https://www.umraniye.bel.tr/en/main/pages/umraniye-municipality-and-palestine-jabalia-a/302. dead.

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