Taghreed Saadeh
The Palestinians are preparing to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Nakba in all Palestinian presence; in Palestine, the Arab countries and the world, and the most prominent event is its commemoration in the United Nations General Assembly Hall for the first time.
On May 15, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will deliver a speech to the General Assembly.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to hold a high-level session to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Nakba in the General Assembly Hall on May 15.
At that time, the resolution received 90 votes in favor, while 30 countries voted against it, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Sweden, in addition to the United States and Israel, while 47 countries abstained from voting.
It is noteworthy that the Palestinian Mission to the United Nations and the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People have previously organized events to commemorate the Nakba in the General Assembly Hall, but this is the first time that the event will be held based on a mandate from the General Assembly itself.
Fatah said in a statement that Abbas’ speech would explain the historical injustice that befell the Palestinian people.
On the other hand, the Israeli occupation works to thwart this event, and sent letters to representatives of various countries, imploring them not to participate in the event.
And according to Hebrew media, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the member states of the United Nations not to cooperate with another Palestinian attempt so called to rewrite history.
The Nakba is a Palestinian term that deals with the human tragedy related to the displacement of a large number of the Palestinian people outside their homes in 1948. On May 15 of each year, the Palestinians adopted the anniversary of the Nakba, which is the day after the day when the establishment of Israel was announced, according to the Gregorian calendar. On May 14, 1948, Israel announced its existence. However, the Jews do not rely on the Gregorian calendar, but on the Hebrew calendar, and therefore, due to the difference between the Gregorian and Hebrew calendars, the celebrations of the establishment of Israel will not be on the same day as the commemoration of the Nakba, but they usually coincide every 19 years.
On the occasion of this day, the Palestinians unifiedly organize activities and demonstrations inside the Green Line the occupied 48 lands, West Bank, Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem, and in the Palestinian refugee camps in the Arab countries and all over the world.
Marches are held, banners are raised, and slogans are chanted emphasizing the right of return and self-determination.
In the West Bank, a central march is usually held in the city of Ramallah, in which representatives of the Palestinian factions participate and deliver speeches.
Schools in Palestine also used to allocate the morning broadcast and the first session; To talk about this painful memory and its effects.
Palestinian radio stations and televisions broadcast live national anthems and programs about the Nakba.
It is worth mentioning that, on the 63rd anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba in 2011, Palestinian refugees from West Bank, Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria crept towards the borders with the occupied territories in 1948. The occupation soldiers opened fire on the demonstrators, killing at least 12 people, as well as dozens of wounded.
On March 23, 2011, the Israeli Knesset approved by a majority the so-called “Nakba Law”, which prohibits the commemoration of the Nakba, and that anyone who violates this article is liable to imprisonment for one year or a fine of 10,000 shekels (about $2,500).