The Nakba, which translates to “catastrophe” in Arabic, refers to an event in Palestinian history that devastated the lives of countless Palestinians as a direct result of the establishment of Israel in 1948. But on a single day in 1948, they joined more than 700,000 Palestinians who were driven off their land and turned them into some of the first refugees. Last month, Palestinians commemorated the 73rd anniversary of Al Nakba (-In Arabic: النكبة, ‘the Catastrophe’), as they call their tragedy that continues to this day not only merely from a historical point of view but one that opened wounds still bleeding till today and affecting them as nation or national identity.
What Happened in 1948? The Nakba, where it truly began is with the decision to divide Palestine. In 1947, the U.N. proposed a partition plan that would have created independent Jewish and Arab states in what was known as historic Palestine. Even though the Jewish community agreed to this plan, Arab leaders and Palestinians did not — they did not wish to lose their land and sovereignty.
Independence Day The independence of Israel was declared on 14 May 1948, which started off the first Arab – Israel war. Palestinian villages were obliterated during the fighting, and families left their homes in fear of violence. By the time fighting was over, approximately 700,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes and all they knew. Many would never go back.
The Refugee Crisis — In the wake of the Nakba, there was one of the largest and most long lasting refugee crisis in Recent Modern History. Palestinian families fled to neighboring lands such as Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, or held up in refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A large portion of these refugees now reside in camps and some were grandchildren who are likewise unfit to come back to their carefully assembled towns because of Israeli strategies.
The question of the right to return is based on UN General Assembly Resolution 194, in which it is stipulated that refugees wishing to go back to their homes and live there in peace should be able to do this. But they are being denied even this right and are forced to squat in statelessness.
Political Expediency Strips of Palestinians of Right to Narrative: The Nakba was not a brief moment of physical displacement; it casts a long shadow over the Palestinian psyche and identity. Their land, homes and way of life lost but forging a new people in exile — a diaspora people bound by the common memory of home. It is what lit the flame of a Palestinian national liberation struggle that has been burning (and sometimes sputtering) for over half a century since then, in an effort to finally achieve justice, self-determination and for all who desire it, the right of return.
Generations of Palestinians have grown up with stories of the Nakba, keeping alive the memory of what was lost. This collective memory plays a crucial role in the ongoing struggle for Palestinian rights and the pursuit of a fair and lasting solution to the conflict.
The Nakba is a story of loss, displacement, and survival that continues to resonate today. To truly understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it’s essential to recognize the significance of the Nakba and its lasting impact on Palestinian society. I encourage you to learn more about the experiences of Palestinian refugees and support initiatives that advocate for their rights, particularly their right to return.
Palestinians have been waiting for justice for over 70 years. It’s time for the international community to recognize their suffering and work toward a just solution that honors their history, rights, and dignity.
