Jordan evicts over 100 Palestinians from refugee camp 

Demolitions in Amman’s Al-Mahatta camp spark rights concerns over lack of compensation and consultation

AMMAN, Jordan (MNTV) — Authorities in Jordan have forcibly evicted more than 100 Palestinians from an unofficial refugee settlement in the capital as part of a new urban development plan, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported this week.

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) demolished at least 25 homes and several shops in the Al-Mahatta area during November and December 2024, displacing around 101 people, according to HRW. 

The demolitions were linked to the municipality’s new “Strategic Plan 2026,” which aims to reduce population density, increase green space, and improve traffic flow.

Although Al-Mahatta is not officially recognized as a refugee camp by the Jordanian government, it is home to approximately 8,000 Palestinians whose families were displaced during the 1948 Nakba.

Evicted residents told HRW they were given little notice and were not meaningfully consulted. 

Some reported receiving just two weeks to one month’s warning, along with vague verbal offers of compensation amounting to 80 Jordanian dinars (about $113) per square meter — with little clarity on how or when payments would be made.

Amman Mayor Yousef Al-Shawarbeh dismissed the complaints, saying the evicted residents were squatting on state land and not entitled to compensation. 

He described any offers made to them as voluntary “donations.”

HRW’s deputy Middle East director Adam Coogle denounced the evictions, saying, “Displacing families and disrupting their livelihoods without adequate safeguards and fair compensation leaves dozens of people with few places to seek help.”

The incident has sparked concern among rights groups, who warn that forced removals without proper support could deepen the vulnerability of already marginalized Palestinian communities in Jordan.