Palestinians Mark 77th Nakba Amid Pressure from Trump and Netanyahu

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - On Wednesday, Palestinians commemorated Nakba Day, reflecting on their historic displacement during the establishment of Israel and drawing parallels with the current crises in Gaza and the West Bank.

The conflict, which erupted on October 7, 2023, has led to tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza, where Israel's blockade has pushed the population toward starvation. Israeli officials openly discussed plans to reduce the Gaza population as part of their military campaign.

Similarly, in the West Bank, under Israeli occupation since 1967, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forcibly relocated from refugee camps amid large-scale military operations.

The 77th Nakba Commemoration

The New Arab reported that this year marks the 77th anniversary of Nakba, which means "catastrophe" in Arabic, referring to the forced expulsion of around 700,000 Palestinians during Israel's establishment in 1948.

In Ramallah, West Bank, Palestinian flags and black "return" flags adorned street intersections, while school children were brought to the city center on a week-long commemoration event. In one event, young boys donned traditional Palestinian keffiyeh, waved flags, and carried a symbolic giant key representing the homes lost in what is now Israel, homes still hoped to be reclaimed by refugees.

No public commemorations took place in Gaza due to the dire impact of the conflict for over 19 months and relentless Israeli bombings, which have plunged its population into poverty and destitution. Moamen al-Sherbini, a resident of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, told AFP that the tragedy continues.

"Our lives here in Gaza have become one long Nakba - losing loved ones, our homes destroyed, our livelihoods gone," he said. Almost everyone among Gaza's 2.4 million population has been displaced at least once during the current war.

Palestinian refugees continue to demand their right to return to the villages and towns they or their ancestors were forced to leave in 1948, now within Israel's borders. This "right of return" remains a central and unresolved issue in the stalled peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine.

Since January, Israel has conducted large-scale military operations in the West Bank, leading to at least 38,000 people being displaced, according to a UN report. This campaign has primarily targeted refugee camps in the northern West Bank, involving forced evacuations and house demolitions.

Netanyahu Vows to Expel Gazans

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced an intensive military campaign in Gaza aimed at defeating Hamas. In a Hebrew video posted on X, Netanyahu outlined that the operation, approved by the Israeli Security Cabinet, will be expanded but did not specify the exact extent of the military's control, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Netanyahu stressed that the Palestinian population in Gaza will be relocated "for their own protection" as part of the operation. He stated that Israeli forces will not carry out limited attacks followed by withdrawal; instead, the goal is to control the area sustainably.

The Israeli government unanimously agreed to call up additional reserve forces and deploy the military responsible for managing food and essential supplies for the 2.3 million people trapped under the blockade in Gaza.

Unnamed Israeli officials indicated that the plan may involve full military occupation of the Gaza Strip.

The government also unanimously agreed to call up additional reserve forces and deploy the military responsible for managing food and essential supplies to the 2.3 million people trapped under the blockade in Gaza.

Netanyahu reportedly supports a plan initially proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, which involves the departure of Palestinian residents from Gaza.

In response, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi told Al Jazeera that the group demands a comprehensive ceasefire and complete withdrawal of Israel from Gaza before any agreement can be considered. He condemned Israel's threats and mass killings as futile attempts to extract concessions.

Trump Still Wants to Control Gaza

Despite changes in Middle East policies, such as toward Iran and the Houthis, President Donald Trump has not abandoned his ambition for Gaza.

According to Middle East Eye, during his visit to the Middle East, Trump revealed a bold vision for Gaza, stating that the United States should 'take over' control of the Palestinian enclave and transform it into a "freedom zone."

Speaking in Qatar, Trump outlined his idea of involving the U.S. directly in Gaza, aiming to build a zone characterized by freedom and opportunities amid the ongoing Israeli blockade and military operations. "I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good, make it a freedom zone, let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone," Trump said.

This marks a continuation of his previous controversial statements about reshaping Gaza, opposed by Qatar, particularly previous remarks about turning it into "a Riviera of the Middle East".

It remains unclear how the Middle Eastern countries currently being visited by Trump will respond to his proposals and the trillions of dollars in cooperation contracts being offered to him.

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