Comparing Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza to the 1948 Nakba: A tragic parallel unfolding
Recent Israeli atrocities evoke echoes of the historical catastrophe that befell the Palestinian people in 1948
Jerusalem (Quds News Network) – In the wake of Israel’s ongoing genocide campaign in Gaza, questions arise about the severity of the situation, drawing parallels with the tragic events of the 1948 Palestinian Nakba.
Seventy-five years ago, Zionist militias stormed Palestine, resulting in the murder of at least 15,000 Palestinians and the forceful expulsion of 750,000 individuals from their homes to pave the way for the establishment of Israel.
Referred to as the Nakba, meaning “catastrophe” in Arabic, the historical trauma of 1948 has been compared to the current onslaught on Gaza. Israeli forces raided and destroyed over 500 Palestinian villages during that period, leaving those who remained to live under occupation.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports a death toll of approximately 20,915 so far, with an additional 6,000 to 7,000 individuals unaccounted for, buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings. Understanding the events of 1948 is deemed crucial to comprehend the current crisis unfolding in Gaza.
Darin Sallam, writer and director of the film “Farha” (2021), emphasizes that the conflict is not intricate or religious but stems from the occupation that began in 1948. “The war crimes committed today echo those of 1948, with repetitive patterns of barbarism and savagery,” she says.
Kill, rape, and burn until all of them are either dead or displaced…
Israeli veteran soldiers talking about what seems to be Israel's playbook since the Nakba. pic.twitter.com/PLOsBtOBOC
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 14, 2023
“Infants left to starve and die, children being killed in cold blood, murdering defenceless families, stealing jewellery and property, wiping out villages, and most recently how they announced via megaphones to leave the area to so-called ‘safe zones.’ It’s the same as 1948, but worse!”
Nakba survivors draw parallels
Dr. Ghada Karmi, a Nakba survivor and co-founder of the European Centre for Palestine Studies, draws attention to the unprecedented levels of destruction, displacement, and loss of lives in the current conflict. The starvation campaign employed by Israel, targeting vital infrastructure and cutting off food supplies, exacerbates the humanitarian crisis.
“I remember there was fear everywhere, and it’s that same fear I’m seeing on the faces of the children in Gaza today,” Karmi explains.
Mahjoob Zweiri, a contemporary history professor, notes that while Palestinians left in 1948 with limited understanding of the consequences, the situation has changed. Palestinians are now more aware and realize the gravity of leaving, especially with neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan refusing to absorb refugees.
As the international community grapples with the escalating crisis resulting from over 82 days of Israeli genocide, questions persist about the world’s role in allowing the situation to reach this point.
Dr. Karmi underscores the active support and impunity granted to Israel by Western states, highlighting the central question surrounding the responsibility of the global community in addressing the ongoing tragedy in Gaza.
“It’s a very, very, central question. Israel could never do any of this if it was not for the active support and the impunity granted to Western states.”
