The Nakba did not start or end in 1948

Tucked away in the bustling heart of Valletta, Malta’s capital city, lies a small, often overlooked memorial. It’s not a grand monument, nor is it listed in every tourist guide. Yet, it stands as a silent sentinel, marking a date that, for many Palestinians, is not just a historical event, but a living, breathing reality: the Nakba.

The Nakba, an Arabic word meaning ‘catastrophe’, commemorates the displacement of Palestinians in 1948. But as the plaque on this Valletta memorial reads, “The Nakba did not start or end in 1948.” It’s a statement that echoes through time, resonating with the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people.

The Nakba is not a singular event, but a series of displacements that began long before 1948. It’s a story of a people uprooted from their homes, their lands, and their history. It’s a story that continues to unfold today.

In 1917, the Balfour Declaration promised a Jewish homeland in Palestine, a land already inhabited by Arabs. This was followed by waves of Jewish immigration, often supported by British forces. By 1948, the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine proposed dividing the land into separate Jewish and Palestinian states. The Palestinian Arabs, who made up the majority of the population and owned most of the land, rejected the plan. The following year, the State of Israel was declared, and the Nakba began.

Over 700,000 Palestinians were displaced in the 1948 war, their homes and villages often destroyed. This was not an isolated incident, but the beginning of a pattern that continues to this day. In 1967, the Six-Day War led to another wave of displacement, with thousands more Palestinians losing their homes and lands. Today, the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the construction of settlements, and the blockade of Gaza continue this cycle of displacement.

Malta, with its own history of struggle against occupation and displacement, has a unique connection to the Palestinian cause. This is reflected in the Valletta memorial, a symbol of solidarity erected by the Maltese-Palestinian Friendship Society in 2006.

Malta’s relationship with Palestine dates back to the Crusades, when Maltese knights fought alongside Palestinians against European invaders. More recently, Malta has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights. In 2012, Malta recognized the State of Palestine, and in 2018, it supported a UN resolution calling for an end to the occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Today, Malta continues to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Local organizations like the Maltese-Palestinian Friendship Society and the Palestinian Embassy in Malta work to raise awareness about the Nakba and the ongoing struggle for Palestinian rights.

The Nakba is not just a historical event. It’s a living reality for millions of Palestinians today. It’s in the refugee camps of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and the West Bank, where people still live in tents, generations after they were first displaced. It’s in the blockade of Gaza, where over two million people are trapped, their movement restricted, and their basic rights denied.

It’s also in the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which continues to displace Palestinians from their homes and lands. According to the United Nations, over 600,000 Israeli settlers now live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in violation of international law.

The Nakba is a story that continues to unfold. It’s a story of a people who, despite all odds, continue to resist, to struggle, and to hope for a day when they can return to their homes and live in peace and dignity.

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