Nakba 75 - Personal Perspectives: “We mustn’t be defined by our loss”
The 15th May 2023 will mark 75 years since Israel became an independent state, the realisation of a dream of many for a homeland where Jewish people could feel safe, but also an event Palestinians remember as the Nakba (Catastrophe).
We asked our Palestinian partners to reflect on what this 75th anniversary means to them. We are sharing their responses in this blog series: Nakba 75 - Personal Perspectives.
Our last response comes from our friend Rami, in East Jerusalem.
WE MUSTN’T BE DEFINED BY OUR LOSS
WHAT DOES 15th MAY 2023 MEAN TO YOU?
Nakba serves as a poignant reminder of the profound losses and injustices inflicted upon the Palestinian people, including the loss of their homes, cultural identity, and hope. Nonetheless, 15th May represents an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and hope, and to work towards a brighter future. Rather than being defined by our losses, we must use them as motivation to create a just and peaceful world for future generations.
HOW DOES WHAT HAPPENED IN 1948 IMPACT YOUR LIFE TODAY?
The painful images of forced displacement still haunt us as it is an ongoing reality. Massafer Yatta, home to 1,200 people, half of whom are children, is currently facing the threat of expulsion and land expropriation, serving as a stark example of the ongoing Nakba faced by Palestinians. The continued appropriation of land by the Israeli government and settlement expansion perpetuate fear and loss, while violence, discrimination, and injustice remain pervasive in our lives. Despite Al-Nakba occurring in 1948, its impact lingers, as similar acts of oppression are carried out against us today.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND FEARS FOR THE FUTURE?
As a father, my greatest hope is to witness my children grow up in a Palestine free from fear, discrimination, and oppression, where justice prevails, and their rights are protected and dignified. However, the ongoing injustice that my people face fills me with deep fears for their safety and well-being. It pains me to see them subjected to violence, displacement, and discrimination, and I worry that they will never experience the freedom and security they deserve. Despite this, I remain committed to fighting for a better future, one where human dignity and freedom are paramount, and where the children of Palestine not only survive but thrive.
WHAT IMAGE REPRESENTS HOME TO YOU?
The photo I selected captures a young girl taking part in a counseling session in Massafer Yatta, a community currently facing the threat of expulsion. Despite the violence and oppression, she and her peers have faced, the girl expressed feeling happy during the session. She explained that being with other children, laughing and playing, made her feel at home and happy. This photo serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of creating safe spaces where Palestinian children can experience a normal childhood, free from violence and oppression. This is home to me.
*All views expressed above those of the respondent, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Embrace the Middle East.
Between 1947-49 over 530 Palestinian towns and villages were destroyed and millions of families fled their homes. These families expected to return but very few ever did. There are currently over 5.9 million Palestinian refugees registered with UNWRA.
The desire of Jewish communities, who had been persecuted for centuries and experienced immeasurable suffering in the 20th Century, to secure for themselves and their children a safe and free future must be remembered. The achievement of this goal should be celebrated. Nevertheless, the Balfour Declaration stated that in achieving the aspirations of the Jewish community, “nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish Communities in Palestine”. This week we remember the failure to realise that part of the declaration.
These testimonies give us hope that a future built upon dignity, rights and justice is possible, although the journey will not be smooth.
Please pray for the resilience, creativity and capacity for hope for these inspiring individuals and all of our partners across the Holy Land. Their desires for their children’s safety and freedom echo in history. Our hope and prayers are for a future where all peoples of the Holy Land can live in safety and freedom.