Israel/OPT: current scenes of forced displacement in Gaza reminiscent of Nakba

Today Palestinians mark 76 years since trauma of mass expulsion following creation of Israel

In recent days more than 150,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced from Rafah

‘It is utterly harrowing to see the chilling scenes of Nakba repeat themselves as droves of Palestinians in Gaza are forced to flee their homes’ - Erika Guevara Rosas

The current forced displacement of almost two million Palestinians and the mass destruction of civilian property and infrastructure in Gaza has put a spotlight on Israel’s appalling record of displacing Palestinians and its ongoing refusal to respect their right to return for the last 76 years, said Amnesty International as it marked Nakba Day.

In recent days, more than 150,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced from Rafah as Israel intensifies its ground and air operations in the area putting thousands of lives at risk and blocking crucial humanitarian aid access. Most of those who’ve fled have already been displaced multiple times during Israel’s seven-month military onslaught in Gaza.

Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, said:

“It is utterly harrowing to see the chilling scenes of Nakba repeat themselves as droves of Palestinians in Gaza are forced to flee their homes on foot in search of safety over and over.

“This Nakba Day the fate of Palestinians is more perilous than ever - dispossessed and subjected to systematic human rights violations under a brutal occupation - with those in Gaza also facing the imminent risk of genocide and grappling with famine. 

“Generations of Palestinians across the occupied territories are deeply scarred by the trauma of being uprooted and dispossessed multiple times, and with no prospect of return to their homes. 

“Israel’s decades-long denial of the Palestinians’ right of return is one of the root causes of the conflict, and the escalation in violence of the past seven months shows that it must no longer be overlooked.  

“It is more important than ever to make a resounding call for Palestinians’ right to return and to remind the world that Israel has been denying them this legitimate right in flagrant violation of international law for more than 76 years.

“A sustainable and just solution to this conflict must uphold human rights, including Palestinians’ right to return, and secure justice and reparation for victims of violations of international law.”

Displacement of more than 800,000 Palestinians

Nakba Day (15 May) is a hugely significant day for Palestinians as it commemorates the displacement of more than 800,000 Palestinians following the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. As a result of the 1947-49 conflict, Palestinians were forced out of their homes and dispossessed of their land. They have been displaced and deported with no prospect of return for them or their descendants. The same fate befell more than 350,000 Palestinians who fled due to the 1967 war and Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. 

In a major report in 2022, Amnesty found that the discriminatory dispossession of Palestinians’ land and property denies them access to their human rights, including the right of return, and is a key component of Israel’s system of apartheid. The UN General Assembly and Security Council have repeatedly called on Israel to facilitate the return of Palestinians. Yet, despite binding Security Council resolutions, Israel has failed even to acknowledge Palestinians’ right to return. The international community must do everything in its power to prevent further forcible transfer of Palestinians and reverse the status of permanent displacement of all Palestinians by enabling the meaningful exercise of their right of return. There must also be an immediate and enduring ceasefire by all parties in Gaza.