Every year on May 15, Palestinians around the world commemorate the Nakba, also known as the catastrophe, which marks the Palestinians’ 1948 displacement from their homeland.
After winning the British government’s support for the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine, Zionist forces proclaimed the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, immediately following the end of the British Mandate.
This declaration sparked the first Arab-Israeli war.
Over 750,000 Palestinians were compelled to flee from their homes and lands by Zionist military troops, who also took control of 78% of historic Palestine.
The now-occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip under blockade made up the remaining 22%.
Israel and Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria negotiated an armistice deal in January 1949, ending the conflict.
The recognized border between Israel and the West Bank is the 1949 Armistice Line, also referred to as the “Green Line.” It is also known as the (pre-) 1967 border because it was before Israel captured the remainder of Palestine in the war of June 1967.
Israel’s military occupation of Palestine is the main cause of this protracted war, which continues to influence every area of Palestinian life.
Zionist Forces’ Brutal Campaign: 15,000 Palestinians Killed, 530 Villages Destroyed in Mass Atrocities and Dozens of Massacres (1947-1949)
Zionist military forces attacked important Palestinian cities between 1947 and 1949, razing over 530 communities in the process.
The results were disastrous, with around 15,000 Palestinians dying in a series of massive atrocities that included several massacres.
One of the most infamous murders occurred on April 9, 1948, in the village of Deir Yassin, located in the western suburbs of Jerusalem.
Over 110 men, women, and children were ruthlessly murdered in this act of barbarism by members of the pre-Israeli state Zionist militias Irgun and Stern Gang.
Where are Palestinian refugees today?
Approximately six million registered Palestinian refugees are housed in at least 58 camps dispersed throughout Palestine and neighboring nations.
For 2.3 million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, 1.5 million in Gaza, 870,000 in the occupied West Bank, 570,000 in Syria, and 480,000 in Lebanon, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) provides support and runs several schools and health facilities.
Baqa’a in Jordan, Jabalia in Gaza, Jenin in the occupied West Bank, Yarmouk in Syria, and El Hilweh in Lebanon are among the largest camps in each region.
Eight refugee camps in the Gaza Strip are home to almost 1.5 million people or more than 70% of the population of Gaza.
Israel’s Military Control Dominates Palestinians’ Lives, Dictating Access to Services, Travel, Marriage, and Residence.
Israel’s military occupation of Palestinian territory has an impact on every area of their lives, affecting their access to services, travel destinations, potential spouses, and housing locations.
Leading international NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims that Israel is aggressively persecuting Palestinians and committing crimes against humanity of apartheid.
Israeli Settlements Continue to Grow
Around 750,000 Israeli settlers live in illegal Israeli settlements, heavily fortified Jewish towns built on Palestinian land.
At least 250 of these settlements are located in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
It is important to note that international law explicitly deems Israeli settlements as illegal.
Gaza War
Since 2007, Israel has imposed a sea and air blockade on the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the Palestinian territory has witnessed four wars initiated by Israel since 2008, resulting in the loss of over 4,000 lives.
According to the United Nations, during the recent bombardment of Gaza from May 10 to May 21, 2021, Israeli forces caused the deaths of 261 individuals, including 67 children.
Additionally, over 2,200 people sustained injuries.
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