Palestinians fleeing from the violence of Zionist militias in 1948.

Nakba 75: an ongoing catastrophe

The Nakba – catastrophe – refers to the bloody expulsion of Palestinians from their homes and settlements by Zionist militias in 1948 as the state of Israel was established. But 75 years later the catastrophe continues, says Laurie Holden of the Hastings and Rye Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, whose commemoration of Nakba Day on Sunday 14 May will be hosted by Hastings Mosque.

The Nakba – Arabic for “catastrophe” – has been commemorated every year since 1948. This is the year that the majority of the Palestinian population fled the terror of the armed groups that became the Israel Defense Force (IDF). This crime against the Palestinian people must be one of the greatest travesties of justice in recent history. More than 600 villages were destroyed, and their inhabitants never allowed to return. Zionist militias committed massacres in Deir Yassin, Al-Lydd, Tantura and many other Palestinian communities. More than 15,000 Palestinians are estimated to have been killed.

Nakba Day falls on 15 May – this year is its 75^th anniversary. And this year, for the first time, the United Nations voted to commemorate it. This is a significant step and corrects a historical wrong. There were countries that voted against the resolution, including the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, San Marino – and the UK. This must be the ultimate insult. The UK has, for so long, backed the Israeli state’s crimes against the Palestinian people and seems to be quite happy to deny a dispossessed people even their own history.

The countries that came out against the resolution represent just 12% of the world’s population. Our government’s actions are not only insulting, but show that it is clearly on the wrong side of history.

Dr Khader Abu-Hayyeh, who will speak at the Nakba commemoration.

Massacre in the mosque

In Hastings we commemorate Nakba Day every year. We’ve held meetings, film shows and vigils. This year we are holding a meeting with three speakers which include Dr Khader Abu-Hayyeh. Khader was a little boy living in Al-Lydd in 1948 when his family fled from the Israeli 89th Commando Battalion which was carrying out widespread massacres including the machine-gunning of more than 100 people sheltering in the Dahmash Mosque.

The Israeli military told the Khader family that unless they left they would all be shot. They were able to escape, though not before the Israelis shot the family dog. Khader and his family were forced to walk miles during one of the hottest summers that anyone could remember. It has been estimated that up to 350 Palestinians fleeing from Al-Lydd and nearby al-Ramla died from heat, thirst and exhaustion.

Dahmash mosque, where more than 100 Palestinian refugees were murdered in cold blood.

Eventually the family found refuge in the Jordan valley near the Dead Sea living in a tent with no sanitation, no running water, no electricity. They remained as refugees for a further 20 years.

At the meeting we plan to bring the situation within Palestine up to date with speakers Sarona Bedwan from Makan, “a Palestinian-led political education organisation that strengthens voices for Palestinian rights,” and Yara Derbas, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement in Britain and co-president for Equality and Liberation at the SOAS Students’ Union.

The demolitions continue, the illegal settlements grow even further, the settler pogroms against Palestinians increase in number, the killings by the Israeli military in the West Bank are at an eight-year high, and the siege of Gaza continues with regular Israeli bombing. The only conclusion that can be reached is that the Nakba continues.

Find out about Palestine from the past until today and hear our speakers’ views on “What is the solution?” The Hastings and Rye Palestine Solidarity Campaign is pleased to be presenting this meeting in conjunction with the Hastings Mosque.

Nakba 75 Hastings Mosque, 12 Mercatoria, St Leonards-on-Sea TN38 0EB, Sunday 14 May, 1.30pm. The event is free and open to all. More information here or from info@hastingspalestinecampaign.org.

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