Days of
Remembrance &
Solidarity

Nakba Day (Arabic: يوم النكبة) is observed annually on 15 May to commemorate the 1948 Catastrophe — when over 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes, 530+ villages were destroyed, and 78% of historic Palestine was seized by Israel.

Historical Context

The date 15 May 1948 marks the day after Israel’s declaration of independence — and the beginning of the systematic ethnic cleansing of Palestine. British Mandate forces had already begun withdrawing, and Zionist militias launched their final offensives to seize maximum territory.

• 750,000+ Palestinians expelled — over half the population
• 530+ villages destroyed — names erased from maps
• 70+ documented massacres — Deir Yassin, Tantura, Lydda
• 78% of historic Palestine seized — far beyond UN Partition Plan’s 56%

The Nakba Is Ongoing

Palestinians emphasize that the Nakba is not just a historical event — it continues through:

• Ongoing home demolitions (400-500 annually in the West Bank)
• Settlement expansion on confiscated land
• Gaza’s displacement (90% of population in 2023-25)
• Denial of the Right of Return for 5.9 million refugees

Naksa Day (Arabic: يوم النكسة) marks the anniversary of the 1967 Six-Day War (5-10 June), when Israel launched a surprise attack and occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, Golan Heights, and Sinai Peninsula.

The 1967 War — Key Facts

• 5 June 1967 War begins — Israel launches surprise airstrikes destroying Egyptian, Syrian, and Jordanian air forces
• 6 June Gaza and West Bank occupied — Egyptian and Jordanian forces overrun
• 7 June East Jerusalem captured — including the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque
• 9-10 June Golan Heights seized — Syrian territory occupied
• Total 400,000+ Palestinians displaced — second major displacement after 1948

UN Resolution 242

The UN Security Council passed Resolution 242 in November 1967, calling for “withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict.” This resolution has been the basis of all peace negotiations — yet Israel has never fully withdrawn, and continues to occupy all territories seized in 1967.

The Ongoing Naksa

The Naksa is not just a historical setback — it defines the current reality:

• West Bank occupation: 3.2 million Palestinians under Israeli military rule
• Gaza blockade: 2.3 million trapped since 2007
• East Jerusalem annexation: Illegal under international law
• Golan Heights: Annexed by Israel in 1981, still occupied

Land Day (Arabic: يوم الأرض) commemorates the events of 30 March 1976 — when Palestinian citizens of Israel organized mass protests against the Israeli government’s plan to confiscate 20,000 dunams (5,000 acres) of Arab-owned land in the Galilee for Jewish settlement expansion.

The 1976 Events

• 1975 Israel announces land confiscation — 20,000 dunams in the Galilee to be seized from Arab citizens
• 30 March 1976 Mass protests called — Palestinian citizens organize a general strike, their first major act of collective resistance
• Police response 6 Palestinians killed — shot by Israeli police during peaceful protests
• 100+ injured Hundreds arrested — including key Arab leaders
• Legacy Land Day became a national symbol — uniting Palestinians inside Israel, in the occupied territories, and in diaspora

Why Land Day Matters

Land Day represents the unbreakable connection between Palestinians and their land. The six martyrs — Khader Khalayleh, Khader Salameh, Raafat al-Zuhairi, Mahmoud al-Rashid, Khaled Abou Rashed, and Jamal al-Atrash — became symbols of Palestinian steadfastness (Sumud) against land theft.

Today, Land Day is observed by Palestinians everywhere — and by solidarity movements worldwide — as a reminder that land confiscation continues: 10,000+ olive trees are uprooted annually, 500,000+ dunams have been confiscated for settlements, and 60% of the West Bank remains under Israeli control.

Palestinian Prisoners’ Day is observed annually on 17 April to honor and draw attention to the 9,000+ Palestinians held in Israeli prisons — the largest per-capita prison population of any conflict worldwide.

Key Statistics (2025)

Administrative Detention — The Most Cruel Tool

Administrative detention is imprisonment without charge or trial, based on “secret evidence” that the prisoner cannot see. Key facts:

• A military commander can order detention for 6 months — renewable indefinitely
• 1,000+ Palestinians have been held for 1+ years without charges
• Some have been held for 10+ years without trial
• Hunger strikes are the most common form of resistance

Children in Israeli Military Courts

Israel is the only country in the world that systematically prosecutes children in military courts. Palestinian children aged 12-17 are:

• Arrested in night raids (often 2-4 AM)
• Blindfolded, zip-tied, and interrogated in Hebrew without guardians
• Convicted at a rate of 95%+ (often through coerced confessions)
• 500-700 children detained annually

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is a UN-designated day, observed annually on 29 November. It was established by UN General Assembly Resolution 32/40 in 1977.

Why 29 November?

The date was chosen because it marks the anniversary of UN General Assembly Resolution 181 (29 November 1947) — the Partition Plan that divided Palestine and triggered the Nakba. The day acknowledges the unresolved injustice of that decision while reaffirming Palestinian rights.

UN Observance

Each year, the UN holds special events:

• UN General Assembly: Special session where member states express solidarity
• Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People: Organizes annual exhibitions and panels
• UN Headquarters (New York): Palestinian flag raised; cultural events held
• UN Geneva & Vienna: Parallel solidarity events

Global Participation

In 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution (143-9) calling for an end to occupation and reaffirming Palestinian sovereignty — the strongest such vote in UN history. Over 140 countries now recognize Palestine as a state.

Al-Quds Day (Arabic: يوم القدس) is an international day of solidarity with Jerusalem (Al-Quds) and the Palestinian people, observed on the last Friday of Ramadan each year.

Origins & Purpose

Al-Quds Day was initiated by Imam Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979, following the Islamic Revolution in Iran. His stated purpose was to create a unified global platform for Muslims to express solidarity with Jerusalem and oppose the Israeli occupation.

• 1979 Initiated by Imam Khomeini — declared the last Friday of Ramadan as Al-Quds Day
• Global observance Observed in 30+ countries — including Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and diaspora communities
• Non-Muslim solidarity Joined by non-Muslim allies — progressive Jewish, Christian, and secular movements participate

Why Jerusalem (Al-Quds) Matters

Jerusalem holds unparalleled religious significance for Muslims:

• First Qibla: Muslims initially prayed towards Jerusalem
• Isra & Mi’raj: The Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ night journey to Al-Aqsa and ascension to heaven
• Third Holiest Site: Al-Aqsa Mosque is Islam’s third holiest mosque
• Land of Prophets: Many prophets lived, preached, and are buried in Palestine

Current Threats to Al-Aqsa

• Israeli raids: Regular incursions into Al-Aqsa compound, especially during Ramadan
• Settler attacks: Extremist groups openly call for Al-Aqsa’s destruction to build a “Third Temple”
• Age restrictions: Palestinians under 50 often denied entry for prayer
• Division attempts: Proposals to divide Al-Aqsa temporally and spatially (like Ibrahimi Mosque)