“Nakba” – 72 years later
The demand for an end to the Israeli occupation and the immediate recognition of an independent Palestinian state remains
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 14th May 2020, Nicosia
May 15th is a day of remembrance for Palestinians wherever they may live for the Nakba – the ‘Day of the Catastrophe’, when 72 years ago approximately 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes and land. Today, it is estimated that more than 5 million Palestinian refugees live in occupied Palestine, in the countries of the Middle East and in many other countries, including Cyprus. Many of them were made refugees for the second and third time.
For 53 years, the Palestinian people have been suffering under the military occupation of Israel, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the Resolutions of the UN and the principles of international law. Israel has been methodically pursuing its expansionist plans against Palestine all through these years. At the same time, the human rights of an entire people are being violated, with the most blatant example being the blockade of the Gaza Strip for 13 years.
Under the guise of the lack of information due to the media focus on the Covid-19 pandemic, the Israeli occupation army is continuing its raids and military operations in Palestinian towns and villages, continuing the arrests, the demolition of houses and expansion of the illegal settlements in the occupied territories.
In the midst of the pandemic, the US Secretary of State visited Israel on the eve of the new coalition government taking office, to reaffirm it appears the support of the US for the annexation of territories of the West Bank in line with the unacceptable “Deal of the Century”.
May 15th finds the Palestinian people suffering even worse conditions because of the Covid-19 pandemic. AKEL demands the release of the political prisoners, the respect for human rights and an end to the settlements. AKEL reaffirms its unreserved solidarity with the Palestinian people’s struggle for an end to the occupation and for the recognition of an independent and viable Palestinian State on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. As Cypriots, we know the pain of being a refugee, which is why we support the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland.
