Place Name
Jordan (الأردن)Place Description
Transjordan refers historically to the territory east of the Jordan River, which developed from a territory of the Ottoman Empire into a distinct entity under British influence following the First World War. The Emirate of Transjordan was established under Hashemite rule in 1921, and the country gained independence from Britain in 1946, becoming the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Its relationship with Palestine remains closely intertwined: following the 1948 al-Nakba, Jordan came to control the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in 1950 formally incorporated them into the kingdom. Jordan subsequently granted citizenship to Palestinians living in the West Bank and to many Palestinian refugees who had arrived from other parts of Palestine, producing profound connections between the two banks of the Jordan River.
Jordan became a major destination for Palestinians displaced during the 1948 al-Nakba and the 1967 June War (al-Naksa), when hundreds of thousands were displaced from the West Bank and Gaza. Refugees settled in cities, towns, and camps throughout the country. Amman became a major center of Palestinian life in exile. Palestinian refugees and generations of Palestinian-origin Jordanians have contributed to Jordan’s economic, cultural, administrative, and political life while maintaining connections to Palestine and the claim to the right of return.
UNRWA recognizes ten Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan: Baqa'a Camp (البقعة), Amman New Camp (مخيم عمان الجديد), Jabal el-Hussein Camp (جبل الحسين), Marka Camp (مخيم ماركا), Zarqa Camp (مخيم الزرقاء), Irbid Camp (مخيم إربد), Husn Camp (مخيم الحصن), also known as Martyr Azmi al-Mufti Camp, Jerash Camp (مخيم جرش), also known as Gaza Camp, Souf Camp (مخيم سوف), and Talbieh Camp (مخيم الطالبية). Jordan’s Department of Palestinian Affairs identifies three additional camps: Madaba Camp (مخيم مادبا), Prince Hassan Camp (مخيم الأمير حسن), and Sukhneh Camp (مخيم السخنة).Also Known As
الأردن, Transjordan, Greater Syria, Bilad al-ShamPlace Type
CountryGeneral Notes
Note Type
Cataloging NoteNote
BWB_ID:3Updated By
Wafa Ghnaim