Friday 15th May marks the 67th year since the Nakba. That’s 67 years since whole Palestinian villages were razed to the ground, their residents massacred and hundreds of thousands more Palestinians were forced to flee. The Nakba (catastrophe) created 750,000 Palestinian refugees in just a matter of weeks. Today that figure is over 5 million.
The Nakba continues to this day. Not only in the millions of Palestinian refugees spread across the world, many of whom have become double refugees due to conflicts like the one in Syria, but in the ongoing displacement of Palestinians. Just this week it has emerged that the Israeli government plans to legalise settlements, making permanent the illegal stealing of Palestinian land and destruction of livelihood. Whilst in Gaza it has emerged that families in Khuza’a have been forced to live in shipping containers after their homes were destroyed in the most recent Israeli massacre. Many families look out onto the rubble of their houses and face the constant memory of Israel’s attack.
The ongoing injustices of the Nakba can be seen in the daily humiliation Palestinians face simply trying to reach their own land or get to school. It can be seen in the violence of the Israeli state or the brutality of the settlers they sponsor. However, Palestinians continue to struggle for their rights and refuse to accept the brutality and oppression of occupation. They will not let people forget the Nakba and will not give up on their right to return to their homeland. It is vital that we continue to stand in solidarity with Palestine and fight for justice.
On Nakba Day – help stop the ongoing Nakba. The farmers and shepherds of Salem, near Nablus, are asking for your help. They are being beaten, humiliated and pushed off their land. They are asking you to join them in Palestine to help them save their harvest. palsolidarity.org
The threat of more evictions and deportations in Susiya in the West Bank (see previous update) becomes ever more imminent. Action
Villagers in Umm al Hiran, are being ethnically cleansed to make way for a Israeli Jewish village – are planning a day of rage. You can support them by signing our petition.
PSC will be commemorating the Nakba by supporting events up and down the country. Please come along to an event in your area to show your support and stand in solidarity with Palestinians who became refugees in 1948 and those who continue to face oppression today.
We are asking people to send a powerful message on Nakba Day by getting involved in our social media campaign. For all of you who care about Palestinian rights and will be remembering the Nakba, show your support with a selfie! Tweet it to us @PSCupdates and post it on our facebook page. Wear your keffiyehs, badges, stickers and Palestine t-shirts. Make sure to include #Nakba67 so that we can show the world just how many of us are standing in solidarity with Palestine. Let’s make a loud noise on social media in support of the determination of the Palestinians who refuse to give up on their rights. Take a selfie for Palestine!