In the heart of Valletta, at the bustling Republic Street, you might spot a small, unassuming plaque. It commemorates the Palestinian Nakba, not as a past event, but as an ongoing reality. This is not a mere historical marker; it’s a testament to the fact that the Nakba did not start or end in 1948.

The Nakba, an Arabic word meaning ‘catastrophe’, refers to the 1948 Palestinian exodus, when over 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes during the 1948 Palestine war. But the Nakba is not just a historical event; it’s a process that continues to this day. It’s about displacement, dispossession, and denial of the right to return.

Malta, with its own history of displacement and migration, has a unique perspective on this issue. The Maltese diaspora, scattered across the globe, can relate to the longing for a homeland. Yet, the Nakba is not just about empathy; it’s about understanding the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Malta’s role in it.

Malta’s role in the Nakba is often overlooked. During the 1948 war, Malta served as a transit point for Palestinian refugees. Today, Malta hosts a small but significant Palestinian community, many of whom are refugees or descendants of refugees. They bring with them stories of loss, resilience, and hope.

Locally, the Nakba is commemorated annually on May 15th. The event, organized by the Palestinian Community in Malta, is a poignant reminder of the ongoing Nakba. It’s a time for reflection, not just on the past, but also on the present-day realities of Palestinian refugees.

The Nakba is not just a Palestinian issue; it’s a global one. Today, there are over 5 million Palestinian refugees scattered across the Middle East and beyond. The UN estimates that by 2020, the number of Palestinian refugees will reach 7.1 million.

In Malta, the Nakba is not just a historical event; it’s a living reality. It’s about the Palestinian family in Msida who still holds the key to their ancestral home in Jaffa. It’s about the young Palestinian student in Msida who dreams of returning to Gaza, not as a refugee, but as a citizen.

As we remember the Nakba, let’s not forget that it’s not just about the past. It’s about the present and the future. It’s about the right to return, the right to justice, and the right to a homeland.

As the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish once said, “I am not a simple story. I am many stories in one. I have a name, and I am not an illusion. I have a place, and it is called Palestine.”