Palestine: From Before the Nakba to Today
I am a young man from Gaza, writing to you about the history of Palestine and our ongoing suffering. I will try to summarize what has happened to this land, from the Nakba in 1948 to what we are experiencing today in this war, which is considered the most brutal in our history.
Palestine Before the Nakba
Before the Nakba, Palestine was part of the Ottoman Empire, and after its fall, it came under British mandate. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration was issued, granting Jews the right to establish a national homeland on our land. That was the beginning of the loss of our homeland, as their villages were gradually built while ours were taken away with the help of the British occupation.
In 1948, Israel declared its establishment on more than 75% of our lands. Over 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes and villages, and more than 500 villages were completely destroyed. Horrific massacres were committed, such as the Deir Yassin massacre, in which around 250 civilians were killed, forcing our people to flee in search of safety.
Our suffering did not end with the Nakba. In 1967, Israel occupied the remaining parts of Palestine, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and began building settlements on our lands. Since then, we have endured repeated wars and attacks, including massacres like Kafr Qasim (1956) and Sabra and Shatila (1982), as well as the devastating wars on Gaza in 2008, 2012, and 2014, which killed thousands and destroyed our homes and infrastructure.
The Current War (2023-2024)
Today, I am living in Gaza amidst a war that is considered the most violent and brutal. Since October 2023, the Gaza Strip has been subjected to thousands of airstrikes that have destroyed entire neighborhoods. So far, more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them children and women, and tens of thousands have been injured. Hospitals, schools, and even shelters have not been spared.
We are living through a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, suffering from severe shortages of food, water, and medicine due to the suffocating blockade. The scenes in Gaza are indescribable: families buried under rubble, and survivors searching for their loved ones amidst destruction.
Despite Everything, We Will Not Surrender
Despite all these tragedies, we in Gaza and all of Palestine remain steadfast and hopeful. The occupation wants to erase our existence, but it can never erase our identity. For us, Palestine is not just land; it is our history, our future, and our life.
I am writing these words amidst the sounds of bombing and destruction, but I want you to know that Gaza, despite everything, will remain a symbol of resilience.
Palestine is not just a cause; it is a life lived by millions who refuse to let it be forgotten.
Written by Nader @abdalsalam1990
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