Two decades have passed since tens of thousands took to the streets, their energies aimed at a protest that left streets strewn with rubble, burned vehicles, and the scars of ongoing conflict. In the Jenin refugee camp, the visible signs of war have shifted; Israeli soldiers withdrew on a quiet Wednesday morning after what was described as the largest 44-hour operation since the second Intifada. The withdrawal opened space for thousands of neighbors and relatives to spill into the streets once more, marking a somber farewell at a mass funeral for the twelve lives lost over those two days of violence. Among the crowd, residents sent a clear message to authorities—built on decades of resistance. They are resolved to endure, to rebuild, and to persist. They will not be defeated.
Mustafa Setarural, a regional manager for Freedom Theater, a cultural organization that uses performance arts to resist occupation, offered a stark reminder: buildings may collapse, cars may be wrecked, and people might be arrested, injured, or even martyred. Yet such actions are not the end of the story. They often fuel a new generation. A statement reported by Prensa Ibérica for EL PERIÓDICO echoed this line of thought, questioning whether the torch of resistance will be carried forward by the children of today just as it has by those before them.
historical castle
Covering less than half a square kilometer, the Jenin camp has long been home to three generations who have lived through displacement from ancestral lands during the Nakba of 1948. They endured sieges, Israeli troop incursions, missile fire, and the use of earthmoving equipment that damaged critical civilian infrastructure. Yet some residents are returning at the news of an Israeli withdrawal, gathering to rebuild the damage and reclaim their routines. Their memories include the era that saw the deadliest phase of the Second Intifada (2000–2005) and the resilience that followed.
Experience informs today’s resistance. Many young militants who left the camp in 2002—when the conflict bore a heavy toll—reengaged with a plan that mirrors a prior struggle, responding to air and ground attacks with renewed resolve. They draw on a lineage of resistance, tied to the city’s historic role in Palestinian armed struggle. The area also carries a long, contested history dating back to the British mandate years (1922–1948) and a period of organization that culminated in the mid-century. A militant, who uses the pseudonym Abu Mujahed, once voiced a belief that life itself is the purpose: a willingness to live freely and with dignity, like peoples around the world. (Context: historical references)
Sheta, the director of the Freedom Theater, warned that the seriousness of the situation cannot be ignored. Camp residents, described by him as being “squeezed in” by occupation, condemn the controls that amount to collective punishment. As they observed the offensive, they saw an opportunity to defend and rebuild crucial infrastructure and roads. The overarching message from Jenin remains clear: the stronghold of popular resistance should be recognized, and its spirit of resilience should be understood by Israeli society. The theater, whose doors bear the scorch of a burned-out car, continues to serve as a cultural hub for dialogue and defiance. (Observation: accountability and resilience)
unemployment and poverty
Despite the intensity of the military campaign, residents keep pressing forward. The refugee camp, home to more than 20,000 people, faces persistent challenges from high population density—roughly 33.3 people per square kilometer—along with among the West Bank’s highest unemployment and poverty rates. Economic hardship has grown more severe as Israel restricted work permits, and the disruption of daily life has cut off a steady flow of goods and people into and out of the area. The blockade has also slowed the movement of Arabs and Israelis who come to the region to buy more affordable agricultural products, compounding the daily struggles of households and families.
Yet the community remains defiant, driven by a shared pledge to reclaim land and restore dignity for every individual. Mustafa Sheta continues to speak for those who refuse to surrender their humanity, and his resolve to stand with his neighbors endures to the last breath. (Statement: perseverance and dignity)