Established in 1950, Tulkarem refugee camp in the occupied West Bank became home to Palestinians driven from their native lands during the 1948 Nakba (“Catastrophe”), which saw over 700,000 people expelled in a campaign of ethnic cleansing to create Israel. Since January of 2025, the camp has been forcibly depopulated by Israel and largely destroyed as part of the IDF’s Operation Iron Wall, which has displaced over 40,000 Palestinians in West Bank refugee camps. In April 2024, before their forced displacement, TRNN was granted access to the Tulkarem refugee camp and spoke to residents about life and death in what was once one of the most densely populated camps in the West Bank.
Credits:
- Produced by Ross Domoney, Antonis Vradis, Abdalrahman Abdrabboh
- Filmed and edited by Ross Domoney
Transcript
Narrator:
In April 2024, The Real News Network was granted access to the Tulkarem refugee camp in occupied Palestine. Israeli army raids would happen sporadically without much warning.
To capture these interviews, the crew slipped in and out, forced to leave multiple times by drones and the fear of incoming raids. We wanted to understand how decades of occupation had shaped the residents’ subconscious.
Established in 1950, it became home to Palestinians driven from their native lands during the Nakba, also known as the catastrophe, which saw over 700,000 expelled in a campaign of ethnic cleansing to create Israel.
The refugee camp is located within the city of Tulkarem, it’s one of the most densely populated camps in the West Bank, housing more than 27,000 registered refugees.
At every turn, Israel has added pressure, erasure and violence. The camp’s armed resistance had gone into hiding, but symbols of their influence were everywhere. Every person we spoke to had a traumatic story of what the army had done.
Mu’tasim ‘Abd E-Rraheem, Tulkarem refugee camp resident:
My friend Mus’ab was martyred on 11/14/2023. We were happily staying up late at night like any group of guys. Suddenly, the Israeli Army entered the camp. I was the last one standing among our group of three.
I see Mus’ab a lot in my dreams. Sometimes, I dreamed that we are both walking in the street. Mus’ab came from above, you get me? He was calling for me. He was saying: “You’re not in prison. What brought you up here to me?” He then asked me to take care of his little brother.
Well, surely when the camp is safe, life is great. But when there are raids, martyrs, prisoners, and wounded [people] every day, it’s horrible, especially since the entire camp shares a common ancestry.
Narrator:
Most people we spoke to say they were targeted despite having no ties to armed groups. Like this man who was hunted by a bomb drone.
Ahmad Jamal Ahmad Ghanim, Tulkarem refugee camp resident:
It’s not my fault what happened to me.I was just going to work. I had nothing to do with the army, or being wanted, or anything of the sort. I was just going to work. I have to provide for this little girl. How would I do that? Through others’ charity? We just want to work.
I dream about how I was shot and hit. I don’t know… At night I wonder where is my arm. Where is… where is my arm? How would I hold my daughter? How would I work? How would I… How would I work or do anything? There is no… Without an arm or a leg, one cannot dream of work.
Narrator:
As Palestinians resist for their basic rights. Soldiers raid with futuristic weapons. Shooting for fun as if it’s a video game.
Nabeel Muhammad Abdallah ‘Amer, Tulkarem refugee camp resident:
So, our sons were around, three of them were standing [here], and probably three to four others were there, watching the three jeeps which were below. Now, there is this… Jeep that is equipped with AI-guided weapons. Once it detected the group of people standing here, it fired one bullet… It penetrated Nabeel’s head. He fell to the ground and the rest hid back.
One of the things I dreamed about while being imprisoned… Apparently, I was in a desert area. While I was asleep, I wasn’t able to see anything. One night… I woke up screaming. Shouting that we’re not in prison. That the situation we’re in has ceased to exist, and that Palestine is liberated.
Narrator:
Since January 2025, the camp has been forcibly depopulated of all its residents. Now much of it sits destroyed and is occupied as part of the IDF Operation Iron Wall, which has displaced over 40,000 Palestinians in West Bank refugee camps.
Residents are allowed back for just 20 minutes, to gather what personal items they can, before being forced out once again.
Nabeel Muhammad Abdallah ‘Amer, Tulkarem refugee camp resident:
When I actually woke up and found the barbed wire around me and our life was still under the tents and watchtowers… I fell back into a state of despair and psychological stress.
Closing text slides:
The Israeli army has largely destroyed Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams Refugee camps.
They remain depopulated.
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