Jumaa Zawayda’s Resistance in Jenin
On the night Israeli forces entered the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, they began instructing its 20,000 Palestinian residents to evacuate. Jumaa Zawayda, a 66-year-old resident, declared his intention to stay put.
Despite his family’s departure, Jumaa felt a responsibility to remain, believing he could protect his home from damage during the expected raid. Over the next three days, he endured a constant barrage of gunfire and explosions, which culminated in water and electricity being cut off. Eventually overwhelmed, he left when his phone died and communication faltered.
Three months later, Jumaa stands on a hill overlooking the devastated refugee camp from which he and others remain barred by Israeli military forces. He searches anxiously for signs of his house among the ruins, as distant explosions echo around him.
Destruction and Displacement
While some locals believe Jumaa’s building has been demolished, he struggles to convey his emotions as uncertainty surrounds him. A father of nine who worked in construction, he had taken refuge in a school-turned-shelter for the displaced before moving to makeshift student accommodations with his brother.
Even before the conflict escalated in Gaza in October 2023, Israel’s military operations had already targeted armed groups in the West Bank. The densely populated refugee camps were home to various groups, mainly aligned with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas, attacking Israeli military forces.
The Human Toll
The UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, estimates Israel has demolished over 260 buildings, displacing approximately 42,000 Palestinians since January. Israeli officials claim to have killed 60 militants and arrested 280, while Palestinian health authorities report around 100 deaths in the West Bank during this timeframe.
Despite mounting challenges, including Israeli blockades making information nearly impossible to obtain, Jumaa and others like him remain determined to return. Even after learning of the destruction of his home, Jumaa vows to not leave the camp, asserting, “If they won’t let me rebuild my house, I will set up a tent in its place.”
