JENIN, West bank – After 15 months in an Israeli jail, Mustafa Sheta drove home with his brothers to Jenin. A lot changed while he was in prison, they said.
The fighters that once had daily run-and-gun battles with Israeli soldiers? Gone. The bustling population of the refugee camp that gave Jenin its reputation as the martyrs’ capital? Gone. The theater Sheta ran in the camp, which he nurtured into an internationally known lodestar of Palestinian cultural resistance? Gone.
It appeared that Jenin, known as the city that never surrendered, had surrendered.
“I was shocked. The concept of resilience in Jenin, it’s really crucial to people. where are the fighters, the Palestinian Authority, grassroots institution, the local leaders?” Sheta said.
“It felt like we lost the war, like we are losing this battle.”
Many observers believe Israel’s actions extend beyond security concerns, representing a deliberate effort to dismantle the infrastructure of the refugee camp and erode the concept of Palestinian refugee status.Roland friedrich, director of affairs in the West Bank for UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), noted that Israeli officials have indicated a desire to eliminate the “geographic expression of the refugee issue” following the completion of the operation. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/5/israel-raids-jenin-refugee-camp-leaving-trail-of-destruction
The denial of UNRWA’s access to the camp is also viewed as a deliberate tactic in this effort. UNRWA provides vital services to Palestinian refugees, and its exclusion hinders humanitarian assistance and further isolates the community. https://www.unrwa.org/
The impact of the operation extends to the cultural life of Jenin. One resident, identified as Sheta, a theater founder, spoke of his recent release from Israeli custody following arrest during the operation. He described experiences of abuse and dehumanization while detained, including strip searches and mocking by Israeli soldiers. He expressed concern that the assault on Jenin is eroding trust in the Palestinian cause and that some residents are losing faith in non-violent resistance. Despite this, he remains committed to using cultural expression as a form of resistance, believing it is crucial to preserving Palestinian identity and heritage.
Sheta’s theater, founded in 2006 by Zakaria Zubeidi (a former Palestinian fighter) alongside an Israeli actor and a Swedish activist, represents a unique attempt at cross-cultural dialog and resistance. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230705-israel-destroys-jenin-refugee-camp-cultural-heritage/
The ongoing situation in Jenin raises serious questions about Israel’s long-term objectives and the future of Palestinian refugees. The destruction of infrastructure, the denial of humanitarian access, and the stated intention to eliminate the “geographic expression of the refugee issue” all point to a broader strategy that threatens the rights and identity of the Palestinian people.