On May 15, the world will mark 77 years since the Nakba “the catastrophe”, when over 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes during the creation of the Israeli state on land historically recognised as Palestine. Entire villages were destroyed, families separated, and those forced to flee have continually been denied their right to return. It marked the beginning of a violent campaign against the Palestinian people, including forced displacement, killings, and ethnic cleansing, and continues without pause to this day.
Since 15 May 1948, Palestinians have continued to live under a system of apartheid. In the occupied West Bank, they endure daily military checkpoints, home demolitions, settler violence, movement restrictions, and a dual legal system that privileges Israeli settlers. Prior to October 2023, over 2 million people in Gaza remained trapped under what many classified as an “open-air prison”, where Israel heavily controlled Gazan borders, as well as access to water, food, and electricity.
This occupation has intensified since Israel’s genocide in Gaza, where over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed so far. The humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating, as Israel continues to starve the entire population. Over 2 million people remain trapped under an illegal blockade, cut off from clean water, electricity, medical care, and fundamental human rights.
The occupying state of Israel has used the war in Gaza as a catalyst to dramatically increase illegal land seizures in the West Bank, with more land confiscated in 2024 than in any year. Entire communities are being uprooted under the guise of military orders or so-called “state land” declarations. Roughly 700,000 Israelis live in illegal settlements across the West Bank, while the number of Palestinian refugees has soared to 7 million across Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and beyond.
The Nakba continues. It lives on in every demolished home, every walled-off village, every act of settler violence, and every child growing up under occupation. Justice demands more than words, it requires action, recognition, education, and advocacy from all of us.
On this anniversary, we call on the Australian Government to:
- Officially recognise 15 May as the Al-Nakba Day, a day of mourning and solidarity with the Palestinian people.
- Acknowledge the ongoing system of apartheid and genocide being perpetrated by the occupying Israeli state.
- End all arms sales to Israel and impose a full arms embargo in line with Australia’s obligations under international law.
- Support and uphold international law, including the right of return for Palestinian refugees and an end to illegal settlement expansion.
- Take real, tangible action to stop complicity in crimes against humanity and stand firmly on the side of justice and human rights.
A Call to Conscience: Stand for Justice, Stand with Palestine
On this anniversary of Al-Nakba, we call upon all noble individuals, communities, and leaders who uphold justice and human rights to join us in demanding meaningful change.
- Commemorate this day by standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
- Advocate for their rights, including the right to return to their ancestors’ homeland.
- Condemn the Israeli occupation, its perpetration of genocide, and the ongoing construction of illegal settlements.
- Raise your voice against oppression, injustice, occupation and apartheid.
