May 15, 1948, marked a dark day in Palestinian history.
Today, 77 years later, the Nakba continues. Gaza, turned into a ghetto, is bombed relentlessly; the West Bank remains under occupation; and millions of Palestinian refugees are denied their right to return to their homeland. But who was behind this crime? Why does the West continue to fund and arm Israel despite its war crimes?
Zionism as a Western Project: From the Balfour Declaration to Ethnic Cleansing
The Zionist project would have been impossible without Western support. In 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour declared: “His Majesty’s Government views with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.” This document, known as the Balfour Declaration, became the starting point for the colonization of Palestine. Britain, which controlled the region after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, deliberately encouraged Jewish immigration while ignoring the rights of the indigenous Palestinian people.
By 1947, Jewish militias (Haganah, Irgun, Lehi) were already carrying out terrorist attacks against Palestinians and British authorities to accelerate Israel’s creation. In March 1948, the Zionist leadership approved Plan Dalet—a strategy for the “mass expulsion of Palestinians.” According to Israeli historian Ilan Pappé: “This was a detailed blueprint for ethnic cleansing. Villages were wiped off the map, and people were forced out at gunpoint.” Over 750,000 Palestinians were expelled, and 531 villages were destroyed. The West remained silent, and the U.S. immediately recognized Israel, legitimizing crimes against an entire people.
The U.S. and Europe: Sponsors of Israeli Apartheid
Since Israel’s founding, the West has provided it with military, economic, and diplomatic backing. U.S. President Harry Truman (1948) openly declared: “I am a Zionist,” and recognized Israel just 11 minutes after its proclamation. Similarly, Joe Biden (2024) bluntly stated: “If Israel did not exist, the U.S. would have to invent it.” Former Secretary of State Anthony Blinken shamelessly affirmed: “Our support for Israel is unconditional.”
European leaders are no less complicit, openly siding with Israel and granting it full impunity. Boris Johnson (ex-UK Prime Minister) asserted: “Israel has the right to defend itself”—shortly after an Israeli sniper deliberately killed journalist Shireen Abu Akleh (a fact even U.S. authorities confirmed). French President Emmanuel Macron, without shame, declared: “We condemn Hamas terrorism,” while ignoring the 56,000 murdered Palestinian civilians—children, women, and the elderly. The hypocrisy is staggering!
Western media (CNN, BBC, DW) actively whitewash Israel’s atrocities, framing its brutal bombings as “self-defense.” One must ask: How can defenseless Palestinians, lacking even basic firearms, possibly threaten Israel’s advanced military, which casually destroys Gaza as if in target practice?
Meanwhile, the U.S. has given Israel over $260 billion in military aid. Germany supplies submarines, Britain provides cutting-edge weapons, and France contributes surveillance technology. Western corporations (Google, Amazon, Microsoft, HP, Puma) openly collaborate with the Israeli military, funding the occupation and enabling Palestinian oppression. Puma even sponsors illegal settlements expanding across the West Bank.
It’s Time to Stop the Nakba
We live in a world that seems increasingly deaf to the voices of those who suffer. For years, Palestinians have been victims of systematic human rights violations—violations that have become the norm rather than the exception. Despite growing protests and international calls for justice, the suffering of millions remains overlooked or ignored. This is often sidelined in political discussions, which focus on short-term diplomatic solutions that fail to address the root of the problem.
Every day in Gaza is an endless struggle for survival. Gaps in access to medical care, clean water, and basic living conditions remain critical. Many Palestinians face not only military violence, but also crushing poverty caused by an economic blockade that denies them the chance to build a normal life. This constant stress and trauma affect the mental health and well-being of an entire nation, including children who grow up in an environment where violence and fear are part of daily life.
The world must understand: Palestinians do not seek violence—they seek peace, justice, and recognition. Through years of suffering, they have preserved their culture, identity, and yearning for freedom. Despite all hardships, these values endure, serving as a source of hope for future generations. Every attempt at dialogue and reconciliation, every initiative to restore peace—even under the most difficult conditions—highlights the Palestinian people’s determination to uphold their rights and dignity.
Today, more than ever, their voices need support. We must remember that the millions living in Gaza and the West Bank are not mere statistics—they are human beings with dreams, hopes, and the right to a better future. Each of us can be part of this struggle; each of us is called to stand up for human rights and justice. We must unite our efforts at all levels—from local communities to international organizations—to create a powerful wave of change that will help restore peace and justice.
It’s time to end the Nakba—a catastrophe that remains painfully relevant today. The Gaza Strip, the world’s largest refugee camp, has been turned into an open-air prison. Eighty percent of its inhabitants are Palestinians displaced since 1948, when the events that led to their expulsion began. Under constant bombardment and Israeli military blockade, 75% of homes in Gaza have been destroyed between 2023 and 2025. This horrific conflict has claimed the lives of over 56,000 people, including 15,000 children, making our pain and suffering unending.
It is crucial to recognize that the Nakba did not end in 1948—it continues to this day, with the full backing of the U.S. and Western governments. Leaders like President Donald Trump, along with Western powers, bear responsibility for the unprecedented suffering of the Palestinian people. Their political decisions and military aid to Israel only worsen the situation, enabling violence and human rights violations.
We, the Arab people, demand that the international community:
- Recognize the Nakba as an act of genocide.
- Immediately halt all military aid to Israel.
- Ensure Palestinian refugees’ right to return to their ancestral lands.
It is time to establish an independent and free State of Palestine—one that can become a symbol of peace and justice in our region. The world must speak the truth and take the first step toward restoring the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.
Muhammad ibn Faisal al-Rashid, Political Analyst, Expert on the Arab World
