This year marks the 77th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, or “catastrophe,” referring to the mass displacement of approximately 700,000 Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. As refugees, many have lived in difficult conditions across Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and the West Bank, with around three-quarters of Gaza’s population consisting of refugees and their descendants. The right of return remains a contentious issue, deeply intertwined with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and past peace negotiations.
In the most recent conflict ignited by Hamas’s October 7 attack, over 47,000 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives, and an estimated 1.7 million have been displaced, many multiple times. The ongoing destruction in Gaza echoes the trauma of the 1948 expulsion, as families revisit their devastated homes. The dire situation has led to fears of a second Nakba, with many believing that even if they aren’t forcibly expelled, the extensive damage makes it impossible to return.
International sentiment opposes any mass expulsions, yet Israel continues to call for the integration of Palestinian refugees in host countries. The ongoing conflict, military campaigns, and claims of discriminatory policies have led many Palestinians to perceive their struggle as a continuous Nakba. The future remains uncertain for those desperate to stay in their homeland amid a crisis that has only deepened their plight.