Dheisheh Camp

Dheisheh camp was established in 1949 and is located along the main street in Bethlehem. The camp was built to serve 3,000 refugees. Dheisheh camp has a very active civil society with many community-based organizations.

Dheisheh refugee camp. © 2015 UNRWA Photo by Dominiek Benoot

The Israeli military fenced in the entire camp during the first intifada, leaving a small turnstile as the only entrance and isolating the camp from the main road between Bethlehem and Hebron. The fence has since been removed, and the turnstile is no longer in use, though it is still visible at the camp entrance. During the second intifada, Israeli forces conducted incursions, house and arrest campaigns, and put the camp under prolonged curfews. Many of Dheisheh’s older male residents were arrested during the first and second intifadas. Despite being under full Palestinian control (Area A), the Israeli military still conducts frequent incursions and arrests inside the camp.

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