In Aida Camp, in the West Bank, where Bethlehem, Beit Jala, and Jerusalem converge, daily life unfolds amid constrained, crowded conditions. Here the local football pitch has become a vital community space and a rare source of recreation, connection and resilience.
A vital safe space beyond the camp's walls
Located just beyond the camp’s boundaries, the football pitch serves as a central gathering place for Palestine refugee children, including girls. Where safe recreational opportunities are limited, the pitch provides a space for young people to train, socialise and build meaningful connections.
Losing access to safe spaces like this would expose children to greater protection risks, pushing them back into overcrowded streets where security operations and tear gas are frequent realities.
Children finding freedom on the field
Among the regular players is 12-year-old Jouri, a Palestine refugee and United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) school student who trains nearly every day with dreams of becoming a professional football player.
‘This place is part of my life’, says Jouri. ‘It is where I can truly practice the sport I love.’
The importance of the football pitch came sharply into focus on 3 November 2025, when Israeli authorities issued an order prohibiting the use of the pitch and its facilities in anticipation of demolition.
By the end of January 2026, the order was temporarily suspended following international pressure. Despite the uncertainty, UNRWA remains committed to safeguarding the futures of refugee children and upholding their right to play in a safe and supportive environment.
For many UNRWA students, the pitch remains an integral part of daily life. After school, children gather there for training sessions and matches that provide a sense of normalcy and opportunities to build confidence, skills, and resilience.
UNRWA’s monitoring work goes beyond this pitch as it supports 457,000 Palestine refugees across the occupied West Bank, including east Jerusalem. This work helps ensure that communities affected by violence, displacement, and restricted access to services have their rights protected. UNRWA teams also engage directly with communities and connect vulnerable individuals to support services, including psychological first aid and referrals through social workers.
As Bushra, associate protection officer with UNRWA, explains:
For children, play is not a luxury. It is a fundamental right and a vital form of psycho-social support. Having a safe space close to home helps ease the stress and anxiety caused by incursions, tear gas and the constant sense of insecurity.
Funded by the European Union, UNRWA protection teams conduct monitoring, document protection incidents, and carry out advocacy in an increasingly volatile environment. Their work helps identify and respond to the challenges facing Palestine refugees, including those living in Aida Camp.
Living with violence and insecurity
UNRWA’s monitoring highlights the impact of occupation-related violence on camp residents. Since October 2023, Aida Camp has experienced more than 100 Israeli security force operations, including the use of tear gas and live fire. During the same period, nearly 180 residents have been detained, contributing to a persistent climate of insecurity.
The importance of the football pitch is reflected in its daily use. Mohammad, sports focal point at the Aida Youth Center, recalls how the idea of having a grass pitch once seemed unattainable for children in the camp. Today, the facility welcomes more than 1,000 users each week, including around 250 children who regularly participate in organised sports activities.
Yet uncertainty remains. The demolition order continues to cast a shadow over the future of the facility. For many young people, the pitch represents not only a place to play but also a rare source of stability.
Mariam, a 12-year-old student at UNRWA’s Aida Basic Girls’ School, describes her concern candidly:
I come here every day to train, and I am deeply worried that one day we will arrive and find the pitch gone. That’s why I come whenever I can, so I won’t regret not having spent time here while I still could.
Community leaders echo these concerns. Ibrahim, UNRWA community and camp services officer in Aida Camp, emphasises the lack of alternatives: ‘The pitch is the only safe option available to children. Inside the camp, there are only crowded streets, passing vehicles and the daily realities of violence.’
Protection, monitoring and support
Behind the football pitch lies a broader protection effort that supports the safety and well-being of children across the West Bank.
The European Union has provided €8.5 million in emergency funding for the period July 2025 to June 2027 for UNRWA to enhance the response to, and prevention of, protection threats faced by Palestine refugees in the West Bank, including east Jerusalem, through advocacy, protection monitoring and documentation, as well as direct emergency response, including psycho-social support, shelter and multipurpose cash assistance.
