CYCLE PALESTINE: CHAPTER 17 - AIDA REFUGEE CAMP BETHLEHEM

Refugees in Palestine
 
Many Palestinians live in refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria and elsewhere, but many also live in refugee camps in Palestine, having been expelled from parts of Palestine that are now Israel.
 
About 560 000 live in camps in the Gaza strip, and about 230 000 live in camps in the West Bank.  One of the latter is Aida Camp in Bethlehem.
 
It is said to be the most tear gassed community in the world.
 
The Key Symbol
 
The key is symbolic. Many Palestinians keep the key to the home that they were thrown out of, even though it’s unlikely to have the same door or lock if it’s still there at all.

We didn’t stay as long as intended, because it was the second Friday of the Great March of Return protests in Gaza, and there were protests elsewhere as well.  People were reported to be burning tyres, and given the likely use of tear gas it was best not to stick around, but we got a bit of a tour.

The camp is right next to part of the Separation Wall.

This is the camp cinema (a white-painted bit of wall).