The multilayered identity of Palestinians’ in Jenin refugee camp: its development and transformation since 1948 رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

In the context of displacement, understanding how refugees form and develop their identities is essential. In Palestinian refugee camps, these identities are influenced not only by their displacement but also by living under ongoing occupation. Palestinians in the Jenin refugee camp, for example, have become a powerful symbol of Palestinian resistance and displacement. This study examines how Palestinian identity develops and is expressed within the Jenin refugee camp, taking into account its historical context and displacement. While most Palestinian refugees share a sense of tragic dispossession, Jenin refugee camp stands out because of the intensity of the occupation’s actions and its symbolic role in resistance. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with residents of the Jenin refugee camp, the research explores how history, place, collective memory, and historical narratives influence this identity. These interviews emphasize the impact of the Israeli occupation on Palestinians’ individual and collective identities. The findings suggest that their identity is not only inherited or imposed but is also continuously shaped by lived experiences, rooted in a shared Palestinian sense of self.