Nakba Day: A Day of Remembrance for Palestinian Genocide

Strategic Insights -

The world commemorates May 15th, Nakba Day, a day set aside by Palestinians to remind humanity of the inhuman cruelties they faced at the hands of Jewish settlers who were settled in Palestinian lands by the UN in 1948. The UN's division of Palestine into Israel and Palestine led to the displacement of between 700,000 to 1,000,000 Palestinians, forcing the establishment of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) to address the needs of millions displaced by Israeli atrocities.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of registered Palestinian refugees stands at 5.9 million, with 2.5 million living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
  • Palestinians in the Gaza Strip constitute more than 40% of the global Palestinian population.
  • In November 2023, Israel's far-right minister, Smotrich, stated that Gaza would "not survive as an independent entity" and Palestinians should leave for other countries.
  • Israel's attack on Gaza Strip in September 2023 resulted in over 14,222 people trapped under the rubble or in inaccessible areas.
  • The death toll from Israel's war on Gaza reaches 61,709 as of May this year, including 17,492 children.
  • More than 111,588 people have been injured, and almost all of Gaza's homes have been damaged or destroyed, with over 50% of hospitals partially functional.
  • The rulers in the West and the US have refused to condemn Israeli actions during UN debates.
  • On Nakba Day, Sri Lankan parliamentarians, including Prime Minister Ms. Harini Amarasuriya, condemned Israeli massacres in Palestine and called for an immediate halt to the genocide.
  • Prime Minister Amarasuriya highlighted the significance of 1948 for both Sri Lanka and Palestine, as it represented independence for Sri Lanka but displacement for Palestinians.

Statistics:

  • 5.9 million: The number of registered Palestinian refugees in January 2022.
  • 2.5 million: The number of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
  • 40%: The proportion of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
  • 700,000 to 1,000,000: The estimated number of Palestinians displaced in 1948.
  • 61,709: The death toll from Israel's war on Gaza as of May this year.
  • 14,222: The number of people trapped under the rubble or in inaccessible areas.
  • 111,588: The number of people injured in the war on Gaza.
  • 50%: The proportion of hospitals that are only partially functional.

Sources:

  • UNRWA
  • Palestinian Authority
  • Sri Lanka Solidarity Committee with Palestine and the Embassy of Palestine in Lanka
  • Prime Minister Ms. Harini Amarasuriya's statement on Nakba Day