Palestinians marched in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, to commemorate the “Nakba” (Great Catastrophe) on May 14, 1948, when Israel declared its independence in the occupied Palestinian territories and forced the displacement of Palestinians.
Palestinian history is full of suffering.
Israel, which declared its independence in 1948 in the Palestinian territories under British rule, has been persecuting the Palestinian people since its establishment.
The Israeli government, which targets Gaza with inhumane attacks today, started to implement its bloodiest policies in those years.
That bloody period, when Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948 and subjected Palestinians to forced displacement, went down in history as the “Nakba” (Great Catastrophe).
Nakba commemorated in the West Bank
Palestinians marched in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah to commemorate the Nakba.
Thousands of Palestinians, most of them wearing black clothes, gathered at the grave of their country’s historic leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah in response to the Israeli army’s attack in the Gaza Strip, which caused a humanitarian disaster.
Thousands of people carrying Palestinian flags participated in the march, some of them carrying sacks of flour dyed the color of blood, dolls wrapped in shrouds and black flags to commemorate their compatriots who were killed while trying to reach humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinians marched from Yasser Arafat’s grave to Manara Square in the city.
Sirens wailed for 76 seconds to mark the 76th anniversary
In the square, sirens sounded for 76 seconds at 13:00 local time, marking the 76th anniversary of the Nakba, and Palestinians raised their hands in a victory sign in a minute of silence.
Speaking at the demonstration, Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Vice President Mahmoud al-Aloul stressed that for 76 years, the Israeli occupation has been “trying to bring the Palestinian people to its knees, but the Palestinians remain committed to their land and their rights.”
Al-Aloul said that Israel is today committing a genocide in the Gaza Strip that is “more brutal” than the Nakba, adding that Israel, with the political and military support of the United States, “tries to solve the Palestinian issue by force, but it does not learn from history.”
Ragad Abbasi (19), a law student at Birzeit University who participated in the demonstration, said in a statement that the Nakba is still ongoing for Palestinians, and that the same practices of 1948 are taking place in Gaza today.
“It is impossible for this generation to forget the Nakba”
Abbasi said that his ancestors were expelled from the village of Abbasiyeh in Jaffa, which is now in Israel, in 1948 and that his grandmother told him about these events. Abbasi said, “For us, it is impossible for this generation to forget what happened in 1948, Palestine, the Nakba.”
The Palestinian youth said that “the smallest solidarity on Palestine, no matter who it comes from around the world, is invaluable for the freedom of Palestine.”
Emced en-Najji (19), who is studying at the Faculty of Press and Communication in Ramallah, said that the Nakba experienced by his ancestors is also valid for them today, and that it is impossible for them to forget this event despite the 76 years that have passed.
Stating that the Israeli occupation is “brutal and will not give up their cause despite killing Palestinians and expelling them from their lands,” Najji said that they expect solidarity from everyone, including Arab countries.
Palestinians commemorate May 15 as the “Nakba” (Great Catastrophe) because of Israel’s declaration of independence in the occupied Palestinian territories on May 14, 1948 and the forced displacement of Palestinians.
