Worldwide rallies demand justice for Palestinians on Nakba anniversary

Tens of thousands of people rallied across cities worldwide this week in a coordinated show of support for Palestinians, denouncing Israel’s military actions in Gaza and marking the 77th anniversary of the Nakba - the 1948 mass displacement of Palestinians during the establishment of the state of Israel.

The Nakba, or “catastrophe,” refers to the expulsion of approximately 700,000 Palestinians by Jewish militias in 1948, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Many activists and observers say that history is repeating itself in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where ongoing violence has displaced hundreds of thousands and left large areas in ruins. In Stockholm, Sweden, thousands gathered at Odenplan Square following calls from civil society organisations to protest Israeli air and ground operations in Gaza. Protesters waved Palestinian flags, displayed images of children killed in the conflict, and carried banners reading: “Stop the Zionist regime’s genocide in Palestine.” Others held placards listing names of civilians killed in recent attacks, underscoring the human toll of the conflict. In the United Kingdom, massive crowds marched through central London toward Downing Street, demanding an end to what they described as Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

The demonstration coincided with Nakba Day and drew hundreds of thousands of participants. Many wore keffiyehs and carried Palestinian flags, chanting slogans such as: “Stop the genocide in Gaza,” “Free Palestine,” and “Israel is a terror state.” Protesters criticised the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, accusing it of intentionally depriving over two million Palestinians of food and essentials. They also condemned the UK government’s political and military support for Israel, claiming it amounts to complicity in the ongoing humanitarian crisis. In Berlin, Germany, demonstrators gathered at Potsdamer Platz under heavy police presence to oppose Israel’s Gaza offensive. Participants carried signs stating: “Your silence is complicity” and “You cannot kill us all,” while Palestinian flags and Nakba-themed visuals were prominently displayed. 

Reports indicate that at least three people were detained during the protest. A similar scene unfolded in Athens, Greece, where demonstrators—many wearing keffiyehs—marched from the US embassy to the Israeli embassy, calling for an end to the bombardment of Gaza. The wave of global demonstrations follows a sharp escalation in violence in the besieged Gaza Strip, where hundreds of Palestinians have reportedly been killed in recent days. Israel has announced a new phase in its ground operation, intensifying concerns over civilian casualties and displacement. May 15 marks the 77th anniversary of the Nakba. 

While historically commemorated as the beginning of the Palestinian refugee crisis, this year’s anniversary comes amid one of the deadliest phases of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent history. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, 53,272 Palestinians have been killed and 120,673 injured since Israel launched its offensive on October 7, 2023. The Government Media Office later updated the death toll to more than 61,700, noting that many people remain trapped under rubble and are presumed dead.

By Naila Huseynova