Malta & The Nakba: The Story Beyond 1948

Tucked away in the bustling streets of Valletta, Malta’s capital city, lies a plaque that reads: “In memory of the Palestinian people who were expelled from their homes in 1948.” It’s a poignant reminder, but it’s only half the story. The Nakba, as Palestinians call it, didn’t begin or end in 1948. It’s an ongoing narrative that continues to shape the lives of Palestinians today, and it’s a story that Malta, with its unique historical ties to the region, can’t afford to overlook.

The Nakba, an Arabic word meaning “catastrophe,” refers to the displacement of Palestinians that began with the 1948 Palestinian exodus. But the roots of this tragedy go back further, to the late 19th century when Jewish immigration to Palestine, backed by Britain, began to increase. This was followed by the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which supported the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, then under British control.

In 1947, the United Nations partitioned Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states. The following year, as Israel was established, around 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes. This was the beginning of the Nakba. But it didn’t end there. In the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip, leading to another wave of displacement. Today, millions of Palestinians live as refugees, many in camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza.

Malta’s connection to the Middle East runs deep. During the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, Ottoman forces laid siege to the island. Centuries later, Malta played a role in the British Mandate for Palestine, with Maltese soldiers serving in the region. Today, Malta is home to a small Palestinian community, many of whom are students or refugees.

In 2018, Malta became the 13th country to recognize the state of Palestine. But recognition is just the first step. “We need to move beyond words and take concrete action to support the Palestinian people,” says Dr. Rami Khoury, a Palestinian-Maltese academic based in Malta. “That means advocating for their right to return, to self-determination, and to a just and lasting peace.”

The Nakba isn’t just a historical event. It’s an ongoing reality for Palestinians. Today, Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip continues, as does the displacement of Palestinians. In Malta, the Palestinian community is fighting for recognition, for their right to work and study, and for their right to return.

“The Nakba is not just about what happened in 1948,” says Dr. Khoury. “It’s about what’s happening today. It’s about the children growing up in refugee camps, about the families separated by borders, about the homes demolished, about the rights denied.”

In Valletta, the plaque serves as a reminder. But it’s up to us to tell the full story, to act on it, and to ensure that the Nakba doesn’t continue into tomorrow.