In Jordan's camps, the walls speak for Palestine

By Laith Al-Jnaidi

AMMAN, Jordan (AA) - The walls in Jordan's refugee camps have given a voice to the Palestinian cause.

Murals fill the walls with catchphrases: "Gaza will never bow," among others.

Nearly 2.5 million Palestinian refugees are living in Jordan, including 460,000 in 13 camps – often in squalid conditions.

Baqa'a is the largest of these camps, located in northern Amman and home to 120,000 refugees.

"We die for Palestine to live," reads one wall in Baqa'a.

"These phrases and slogans confirm that the Palestinian cause is still alive within our souls," Palestinian refugee Mohammad Ghanem, 73, told Anadolu.

These murals are drawn by young people "to prove that they are attached to Palestine, even if they are away from it," he added.

Another refugee, Hasan Abu Jazar said: "These drawings symbolize the sacrifice of the Palestinian people and their struggle."

Jordanian sociologist Hussein Khuza'i said these murals reflect the strong connection of the residents of the camp with the cause, despite the physical distance.

Amal Ashour, a political scientist, told Anadolu that these murals and graffiti are an expression of solidarity.

"They [murals] also represent a message to the entire world on the determination of the Palestinians to return to their homeland, the one they were expelled from," Ashour added.

Palestine is once again in the spotlight as Israel continues bombing Gaza – flouting a UN Security Council resolution and rulings by the International Court of Justice.

Nearly 36,100 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, the vast majority being women and children, and over 81,000 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Nearly eight months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar​​​​​​​