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Balata Refugee Camp: The toll of human rights violations and imprisonment

Posted on: May 10, 2012

by Alex

9 May 2012 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

The 9th May marks the 22nd day of the Palestinian prisoners mass hunger strike. Today as with every day, the prisoners’ families and friends met at Nablus Prisoners’ tent in a show of solidarity, paying respect to their sons, brothers, daughters and sisters suffering in Israeli prisons in conditions which constantly violate international laws.

Said al Kabi, 54, is just one father whose anguish is worn on his worried face. He has suffered greatly, lost many family members and both of his legs to the illegal Israeli occupation. His son, Jawad al … Continue reading


Updated on May 11, 2012
Posted under: Reports
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Turtles in Aqraba

Posted on: February 10, 2012
Planting trees in Aqraba

by Jonas Weber

10 February 2012 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank


“Hurry up you turtles!” Wael yelled in the distance. He had suddenly turned this walk into some kind of contest. We skipped across the rocky landscape of Palestine, dirty and with the sun in our eyes.
We were planting trees in the small village of Aqraba, putting up pictures of our missed friends Rachel Corrie and Vittario Arrigoni. Men and women, young and old were helping out with the planting, and we were treated to tea sweet as syrup. … Continue reading


Updated on February 10, 2012
Posted under: Journals
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In Photos: Balata cleans up for a place to run free

Posted on: December 3, 2011
Volunteers and locals bring room to run free - Click here for more images

by Amal

3 December 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

It is hard to describe the joy of a simple yet so meaningful clean up day, and the beauty of children playing in a stress-free environment. We joined residents of Balata Refugee Camp in a clean up and play day. Many people came out Friday, December 2nd and Saturday December 3rd to help with cleaning a field. The youngest volunteer was barely over two years old, but that did not stop her from clearing scattered rocks.  The anticipation for the games to come excited us all.

… Continue reading


Updated on December 6, 2011
Posted under: Journals, Photo Story
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The psychology and coping of Balata refugee camp

Posted on: September 30, 2011

by Alistair George

30 September 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, West Bank

Balata refugee camp, 2km east outside of Nablus, in the North of the West Bank, is a densely packed grid of permanent buildings and tight streets, many narrower than shoulder-width.   Buildings rise higher each year as residents add extra storeys to cope with chronic overcrowding and lack of space.  Having been founded in 1950, Balata was initially designed to house 5000 refugees forced from their homes during the 1948 Nakba .  There are now more than 25,000 people crammed into the 1km2 camp and many residents live in extreme hardship … Continue reading


Updated on October 28, 2011
Posted under: Journals
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Seven Palestinians arrested during Nablus military raids

Posted on: November 6, 2009
Seven Palestinians arrested during Nablus military raids

5 November 2009

In the dead of night, at 2am, Thursday 4 November, the Israeli Occupation Force made a series of military raids on civilian home in Nablus, arresting 7 young men.

Al-Ein camp was brutally attacked by a force of some 100 Israeli soldiers, encircling a large part of the camp while firing sound bombs. A large number of houses were invaded, their occupants awoken and forced to stand outside in the freezing cold, while soldiers with dogs wrecked havoc upon their … Continue reading


Updated on November 9, 2009
Posted under: Reports
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Israeli forces invade Balata refugee camp

Posted on: July 1, 2009

29 June 2009

Early morning the 29th of June, the Israeli Occupation Force invaded four houses in the Balata Refugee Camp in Nablus. The soldiers arrested 3 boys of between 16 and 17 years old, without letting them or their family know why. In several of the houses, the soldiers had destroyed furniture, mirrors, cabinets and kitchen equipment.

At around 2 o’ clock in the morning, about 40 heavily armed soldiers with around 8 jeeps surrounded the house of the Mamroti family in the Balate Refugee Camp in Nablus. When the soldiers entered the house, they wanted to talk to the father … Continue reading


Updated on July 1, 2009
Posted under: Reports
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Balata Camp commemorates the Nakba

Posted on: May 16, 2009
Balata residents mark Nakba day

14 May 2009

The Nakba Committee of Nablus organized a commemoration ceremony in Balata village. About 500 people from the area gathered to attend the event where various speeches were given by community officials such as the Mayor of Nablus and others.

Some 500 Palestinians with flags and banners gathered in Balata village at the outskirts of Nablus to observe the 61st memorial day of the Nakba, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians where expelled from their homeland and became refugees.

The mayor of Nablus, Dr. … Continue reading


Updated on May 16, 2009
Posted under: Reports
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Another child shot in Balata

Posted on: July 7, 2005

ISM Nablus
2am, 7th July 2005

Israeli armed vehicles arrived at the camp late in the evening. Despite the presence of two large groups of civilians, including two internationals, the soldiers began firing live rounds directly into the camp. We had not heard any Palestinian gunfire. When medics arrived on the scene minutes later we learned that a child in the other group, 50 meters away, had been shot in the head. We don’t know if he is dead or in critical condition. The jeeps continued to fire and entered the camp smashing market stalls and preventing us from … Continue reading


Updated on January 13, 2009
Posted under: Press Releases
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