Palestinians mark the Nakba — and say today is worse | DW News

Key Concepts

• Nakba: Arabic for "catastrophe," referring to the 1948 mass expulsion and flight of approximately 700,000 Palestinians during the war that established the modern state of Israel.
• Right of Return: The demand for Palestinian refugees to return to their ancestral homes and lands from which they were displaced.
• Settler Violence: Acts of aggression by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, often involving home demolitions and forced displacement.
• Two-State Solution: A diplomatic framework proposing an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel; currently debated regarding its viability and implementation.
• Land for All: A joint Palestinian-Israeli movement advocating for a model that allows for two states with freedom of movement and residence across the entire territory.
• Annexation: The process by which Israel incorporates territory in the West Bank, often through settlement expansion, which Palestinians view as a barrier to statehood.

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1. The 78th Anniversary of the Nakba

The 78th anniversary of the Nakba is marked by Palestinians globally as a period of collective trauma. In Gaza, the commemoration is particularly poignant, as the current war has led to the displacement of nearly 2.2 million people.

• Current Context: The UN reports that over 75% of homes in Gaza have been damaged. Many Palestinians, including those born long after 1948, describe the current conflict as a "new Nakba," citing death, destruction, and repeated displacement.
• Symbolism: Demonstrators carry keys, representing the physical keys to homes lost in 1948 and the enduring demand for the right to return.

2. Legal and Moral Perspectives on the Conflict

Omar Dejani, a law professor at the University of the Pacific, highlights that the conflict is rooted in both unresolved legal issues and deep-seated emotional trauma.

• Property and Restitution: Dejani notes that many Palestinian families, including his own from Jaffa, were displaced before the official 1948 war ended. Their properties were confiscated and remain vacant or repurposed, raising questions about the legal requirements for restitution and the moral necessity of the right of return.
• The "Land for All" Framework: Dejani argues for a transformative approach to the two-state solution. Rather than a rigid separation, he advocates for a model that honors the attachment of both peoples to the land while ensuring freedom of movement and residence.

3. Political Challenges and Governance

The discussion identifies significant barriers to peace, both within the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Israeli government.

• PA Legitimacy: Dejani argues that the PA’s lack of legitimacy among Palestinians stems primarily from its failure to secure freedom or statehood through negotiations, rather than just internal corruption. He asserts that expecting the PA to reform while under an "illegal" occupation is a "fool’s errand."
• Israeli Political Climate: Akiba Elder, co-author of Lords of the Land, points to a paradox: while a majority of Israeli Arabs (Palestinian citizens of Israel) express a desire for integration and representation in government, mainstream Israeli political parties—including center-left factions—consistently exclude them from coalition building.
• The Two-State Solution: Elder suggests that the two-state solution is currently "not even on the agenda" in Israel. He criticizes international leaders (specifically from Germany and the U.S.) for paying "lip service" to the two-state solution while failing to exert meaningful pressure on Israel to halt settlement expansion and settler violence.

4. Notable Quotes

• On the current situation in Gaza: "We're living like bodies without souls." — Anonymous Gaza resident.
• On the nature of the conflict: "Independence for one group was gained at the expense of another group being dispossessed." — Interviewer, regarding the creation of the Israeli state.
• On the necessity of addressing root causes: "I don't think most Palestinian refugees would actually return to the places inside Israel where they come from, but affirming the right and giving them the opportunity to exercise it is really crucial if we're going to move forward on the basis of peace and equality." — Omar Dejani.

5. Synthesis and Conclusion

The Nakba is not viewed by Palestinians as a historical event confined to 1948, but as an ongoing process of displacement and dispossession. The current war in Gaza and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank are seen as modern iterations of this catastrophe. While experts like Dejani and Elder propose frameworks for reconciliation—such as the "Land for All" initiative—they emphasize that progress is stalled by a lack of political will, the failure of the international community to treat both parties with parity, and the systemic alienation of Palestinian populations. The consensus among the speakers is that without addressing the fundamental issues of refugee rights, property restitution, and the end of occupation, a sustainable future remains elusive.