Atlit detainee camp, Immigration detention museum in Atlit, Israel
Atlit detainee camp is a memorial museum in a coastal town in northern Israel that documents British immigration detention. The site preserves wooden barracks, an original disinfection building, and watchtowers surrounded by barbed wire that show how prisoners lived.
British authorities established this detention facility in 1940 to hold tens of thousands of Jewish immigrants seeking entry to Palestine. The camp remained active throughout the British Mandate period as part of restrictive immigration policies.
The name reflects the British detention policy of the 1940s, and visitors can see personal belongings and photographs that document how people lived in the camp. The exhibits show the conditions of daily life and the hopes that brought so many here.
The museum is open throughout the day with guided tours available in Hebrew and English, and informational displays in multiple languages. The grounds are generally walkable, but sturdy footwear is recommended since the terrain is uneven.
The site displays two unusual vessels: the Galina ship and a C-46 Commando aircraft that migrants used to attempt secret entry to the country. These exhibits reveal the determination and ingenuity of those who sought to overcome all barriers to arrival.
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