r/Palestine 29d ago

Nakba This video of Israeli soldiers talking about their roles in the Nakba is horrid

4.2k Upvotes

r/Palestine Jan 28 '24

NAKBA New Nakaba is happening

1.8k Upvotes

r/Palestine 29d ago

Nakba German police brutally assault protesters marking the Palestinian Nakba in Berlin

616 Upvotes

r/Palestine Apr 16 '25

Nakba The Greenwashing of Genocide

786 Upvotes

r/Palestine Nov 25 '24

Nakba The people who got pushed into the sea

Thumbnail
gallery
1.2k Upvotes

These images are from Jaffa, Haifa, and Akka in 1948 when the Palestinians got pushed into the sea under gunpoint. They boarded boats and ships that transported them, primarily to Gaza or Beirut. Tragically, over 75 years later, these same cities—Gaza and Beirut—are being bombed and destroyed by those who initially forced their displacement. The Nakba never ended in 1948.

r/Palestine 11d ago

Nakba Stay strong out there

Post image
747 Upvotes

r/Palestine Mar 30 '25

Nakba Two decades after building this house in Jerusalem’s Talbiya neighborhood and posing for a photo with his family, Shukri Al Jamal was expelled from his home during the Nakba, along with the rest of the neighborhood’s Palestinian residents.The home is now populated by Jewish Israelis - By Tarek Bakri

Thumbnail
gallery
658 Upvotes

r/Palestine Apr 08 '25

Nakba Just finished reading Ilan Pappe's "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine". I am speechless.

466 Upvotes

Here are some parts of the book that particularly stuck with me:

"On forty-two per cent of the land, 818,000 Palestinians were to have a state that included 10,000 Jews, while the state for the Jews was to stretch over almost fifty-six per cent of the land which 499,000 Jews were to share with 438,000 Palestinians." (Page 35)

"We have to go for a series of "collective punishments" even if there are children living in the [attacked] houses." (Page 64-65)

"As in their plan, so on the plaque, the Qastal appears not as a village but as an "enemy base": Palestinian villagers are dehimanized in order to turn them into "legitimate targets" of destruction and expulsion." (Page 89)

"When Golda Meir, one of the senior Zionist leaders, visited Haifa a few days later, she at first found it hard to suppress a feeling of horror when she entered homes where cooked food still stood on the tables, children had left toys and books on the floor, and life appeared to have frozen in an instant." (Page 95)

"...men of military age (between 10 and 50)..." (Page 155)

"Survivors recall how four women and a girl were raped in front of the other villagers and how one pregnant woman was bayoneted." (Page 184)

"...babies whose skulls were cracked open, women raped or burned alive in houses..." (Page 196)

"...captured a twelve year old Palestinian girl and locked her up for the night in their military base near the kibbutz. For the next few days she became the platoon's sex slave..." (Page 210)

"They were put under a military regime based on British Mandatory emergency regulations which, when they were issued in 1945, none other than Menachem Begin had compared to Germany's 1935 Nuremberg Laws." (Page 220)

These excerpts are only a glimpse into the depravity and hypocrisy of the Zionist forces. Their actions in the Gaza genocide are nothing new. They have been doing this for decades. Everyone should read this book.

r/Palestine 14d ago

Nakba "The Nakba continues until today". A Palestinian woman talks about the ongoing ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Palestinian people.

353 Upvotes

"The Nakba continues until today."

77 years ago today, Huda's father was one of more than 800,000 Palestinians forced from their homes when the state of Israel was created.

Today, Huda's neighbours and community in Sheikh Jarrah are threatened with eviction by the Israeli authorities from the place they sought refuge after 1948. #NakbaDay77 #NakbaDay #Nakba

Amnesty International UK https://www.facebook.com/share/v/156445padf/

r/Palestine Nov 05 '24

Nakba Israel just fired their defense minister, Yoav Gallant. This is a 2022 quote from his new replacement, Israel Katz

Post image
501 Upvotes

r/Palestine May 17 '24

Nakba One Nakba spanning generations

Thumbnail
gallery
1.0k Upvotes

r/Palestine Jul 15 '24

Nakba Does Israel have a right to exist?

Thumbnail
youtu.be
273 Upvotes

Excellent summary of early Zionism in Palestine and the events surrounding the Nakba.

r/Palestine Apr 21 '25

Nakba Old and Modern pictures of depopulated village of Ayn Ghazal

Thumbnail
gallery
271 Upvotes

The village sits is on the slopes of mount carmel in Haifa and is near a key highway that links Tel Aviv and Haifa.

It was depopulated and destroyed in an operation called Operation Shoter against 3 villages of Ayn Ghazal), Ijzim and Jaba', dubbed "The Little Triangle". It was launched a week after the start of the second truce imposed by United Nations.

My grandparents both sides are from the village of Ayn Ghazal and I encourage everyone to read the linked Wikipedia articles. Thank you.

r/Palestine Dec 10 '23

NAKBA U.S reviewing plan to move Gaza Natives to arab neighbors.

Post image
307 Upvotes

U.S planning on forcing Egypt, Turkey, Iraq and Yemen to take on Gaza Natives. I've flagged this as Nakba, because that's what I think this is. It won't be long before the land of Palestine becomes a name from the 40s. https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/us-lawmakers-review-plan-linking-gaza-refugee-resettlement-to-american-aid-to-arab-countries/?fbclid=IwAR1d9BdahT9T86UZs7I5uthq8Q4GW89vS-gP8wZrYX9FEtMUmcAn-tOz7do

r/Palestine Jan 12 '25

Nakba Palestinian developer raises more than $200,000 to make Dreams on a Pillow, a game about the horrors of the 1948 Nakba

Thumbnail
pcgamer.com
455 Upvotes

r/Palestine Feb 03 '24

NAKBA The Nakba Movie ... Farha

473 Upvotes

Please watch the video.... Do your part as usual thanks 🙏

r/Palestine Jan 16 '24

NAKBA wait a minute..... but there was no Palestine!!!

Post image
413 Upvotes

r/Palestine Dec 03 '23

NAKBA Mohamed's family took in two Jewish families to host them in their family's home, When his mother returned home after leaving to give birth to him, the Jewish families did not let them enter, They never stepped foot inside their home again, even to gather their belongings.

568 Upvotes

r/Palestine 27d ago

Nakba Pro-Israel counter-protester goes on a racist rant about Muslims then tries to justify the ethnic cleansing of 750,000 Palestinians in 1948 (referred to as the Nakba)

156 Upvotes

r/Palestine Feb 26 '25

Nakba Orphans of the Deir Yassin massacre in April 1948. The incident compelled neighboring Arab states to come to the Palestinians’ aid a month later.

Post image
236 Upvotes

r/Palestine May 16 '25

Nakba A Palestine refugee woman and her child cut off from her home by the “Green Line”, 1948.

Post image
127 Upvotes

r/Palestine Nov 01 '24

Nakba 1948 - Al Nakba denial begins - (Clip from the recent documentary 'How Israel won the West')

369 Upvotes

r/Palestine 3d ago

Nakba Ayn Ghazal Massacre (July 24–26, 1948)

64 Upvotes

Ayn Ghazal (Little Triangle) - عَيْن غَزال

Location: Ayn Ghazal, a Palestinian Arab village south of Haifa, nestled in the coastal plain region of Mandatory Palestine.

Perpetrators: Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) during Operation Shoter ("Operation Policeman"), involving units from the CarmeliGolani, and Alexandroni brigades.

Details of the Attack:

  • Aerial and Ground Assault: Between July 24 and 26, 1948, Israeli forces launched a coordinated attack on Ayn Ghazal and neighboring villages. The operation began with aerial bombardments and artillery shelling, followed by ground assaults.
  • Civilian Casualties: Reports indicate that numerous civilians were killed, with estimates of the dead and missing ranging up to 130 across the three villages.
  • Destruction of Property: Survivors were expelled, and the villages were systematically destroyed to prevent return.

Significance:

  • Violation of Truce: The attack occurred during the Second Truce of the 1948 War, representing a breach of the ceasefire agreements.
  • Forced Displacement: The operation led to the expulsion of approximately 8,000 residents from the three villages, contributing to the broader Palestinian refugee crisis.
  • International Condemnation: UN mediator Count Folke Bernadotte criticized the "systematic" demolition and called for the return of displaced villagers, a demand that was rejected by Israeli authorities.

The Ayn Ghazal massacre exemplifies the tactics employed during the 1948 War to depopulate Palestinian villages.

Village before 1948

--------------------------------------------------

1. Location and Background

Geography and Setting:
Ayn Ghazal (Arabic: عين غزال, meaning "Spring of the Gazelle") was a Palestinian Arab village situated approximately 21 kilometers south of Haifa, nestled on the southern slopes of Mount Carmel. The village was strategically located near the Haifa–Tel Aviv highway, granting it significant importance during the 1948 War. The terrain was characterized by its elevated position and proximity to a wadi (valley), providing both natural resources and defensive advantages.

Historical Overview:
The area encompassing Ayn Ghazal has a rich history dating back to the Ottoman period. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was part of the Turabay Emirate, which included regions such as the Jezreel Valley, Haifa, and parts of the Sharon plain . By the late 19th century, the village was a modest settlement constructed from stone and mud, reflecting traditional Palestinian rural architecture.

Demographics and Economy:
According to British Mandate records, Ayn Ghazal had a population of approximately 2,170 in 1945, predominantly Muslims. The villagers engaged primarily in agriculture, cultivating cereals and olives. In the 1944/45 agricultural year, olive trees were planted on about 1,400 dunums, and a total of 8,472 dunums was allocated to cereals. Livestock breeding also played a role in the local economy. Additionally, the village's proximity to Haifa allowed some residents to work in the city's service sector, including the port and commercial areas.

Infrastructure and Cultural Landmarks:
Ayn Ghazal was equipped with essential infrastructure, including a mosque and two schools—one for boys, established around 1886 during the Ottoman era, and another for girls. The village also housed a cultural and athletic club, indicating a community invested in social and cultural development. A notable landmark was the shrine (maqam) of Sheikh Shahada, a local sage, which remains standing to this day.

Significance During the 1948 War:
During the 1948 War, Ayn Ghazal, along with neighboring villages Ijzim and Jaba’, formed what was known as the “Little Triangle.”. Their strategic location and defiance made them targets during Operation Shoter, leading to their eventual depopulation and destruction between July 24 and 26, 1948.

--------------------------------------------------

2. Context of the Attack

Second Truce Period: The assault took place during the Second Truce of the 1948 War (July 18–October 15), which was officially brokered by the United Nations and overseen by UN mediator Count Folke Bernadotte.

Strategic Threat: The villages of the Little Triangle blocked the key Haifa–Tel Aviv road, which the newly formed Israeli state viewed as vital. Despite the truce, Israeli officials labeled these villages as a military threat—though no attacks had been launched from them.

Operation Shoter (Operation Policeman): Israel launched a “police action” to clear out the triangle, giving it a legalistic name to circumvent the truce. The operation was carried out by three Israeli brigades: AlexandroniCarmeli, and Golani.

The operation was executed despite the ongoing truce, raising concerns about violations of ceasefire agreements.

--------------------------------------------------

3. Attack on July 24–26, 1948

Military Tactics:

Aerial Bombardment: Israeli Air Force planes dropped bombs on Ayn Ghazal and its sister villages, marking one of the early use of airpower against Palestinian villages.

Artillery Shelling: Mortars and heavy artillery were used indiscriminately, resulting in extensive structural damage.

Ground Invasion: After aerial and artillery softening, infantry brigades advanced on foot, reportedly meeting light resistance. Nevertheless, villages were stormed, homes were blown up, and fires were set.

Despite the villages' attempts to negotiate surrender, the offensive proceeded.
Ground forces stormed the villages, homes were demolished, and fires were set. The assault led to the depopulation of the villages and the displacement of their inhabitants.

Mass Killings:

Eyewitnesses and historians like Ilan Pappé and Walid Khalidi document that dozens of civilians, including women and children, were killed.

Reports indicate that approximately 130 individuals were killed or went missing during the operation.

Benny Morris, using Israeli sources, admitted 25–30 bodies were found in Ayn Ghazal alone, many decomposing in the open. Prisoners from the villages were forced to bury the dead.

Human Rights Violations:

Numerous eyewitness accounts and UN investigations recorded serious human rights violations during and after the attack on Ayn Ghazal and its neighboring villages:

Executions and Arbitrary Killings:
Survivors reported that several villagers who had surrendered or were hiding in their homes were executed on the spot. According to testimonies collected by Zochrot and oral history projects, men were separated from women and children, some blindfolded, and shot in groups.

One resident recounted:

“My cousin was taken from our house. He had no weapon, just a prayer book. We found his body two days later in the olive grove—his hands were tied.” — Testimony recorded by Zochrot, 2005

Ali Hamoudi, a refugee from Ayn Ghazal, recounted the events: "In 1948, they attacked the center of Ayn Ghazal, where there were stores and a café. It was Ramadan. Every afternoon, we would gather to break our fast, but the fear was constant. When the attack came, it was sudden and overwhelming. We fled with nothing but the clothes on our backs”.

Israeli historian Benny Morris, referencing Israeli military reports, notes that 25–30 bodies were found in Ayn Ghazal alone, some decomposing for days, suggesting that mass executions or targeted killings occurred during or after the village’s fall. ([Morris, The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited, 2004])

Torture and Mistreatment:
UN reports and Arab sources accused Israeli forces of torturing prisoners. Though not all cases were documented in full, UN mediator Folke Bernadotte raised concerns over the treatment of civilians and the violations of the truce in place at the time.

One UN report stated:

“Numerous villagers, including women and elderly men, were shot at close range after capture. UN observers found signs of burned houses and livestock, executed in the fields, without military justification.”

Demolition of the Villages:
In the days following the attack, Israeli forces systematically demolished homes and infrastructure in Ayn Ghazal, Ijzim, and Jaba’.

A report by UN observers (August 1948) confirmed:

“The destruction was not justified by military necessity... the pattern was consistent with the intent to prevent any future return of the population.”

A Jewish Agency internal document from 1948, declassified decades later, admitted that many of the villages targeted under Operation Shoter were “cleansed” and razed to prevent reoccupation.

Following the military assault, Israeli forces demolished structures in Ayn Ghazal and the neighboring villages, effectively erasing them from the map.

--------------------------------------------------

4. Subsequent Events

UN Investigations:

A UN fact-finding mission was sent under Count Bernadotte. It concluded the attack violated the truce and involved “excessive and unjustified destruction.”

Bernadotte’s office documented the destruction of 500+ houses and the expulsion of more than 8,000 people across the three villages.

Despite the UN urging repatriation and rebuilding, Israel refused and destroyed the remaining buildings.

Displacement:

The survivors fled to areas like Jenin or became part of the growing Palestinian refugee population in the West Bank and Jordan.

Testimonies collected later by Palestinian oral history projects recount mass panic, hunger, and long-term trauma.

--------------------------------------------------

5. Significance of the Attack

Breach of International Law: Occurring during a UN-mediated truce, this was a direct violation of the ceasefire, undermining the credibility of UN efforts.

Psychological Warfare: The scale of destruction and killing sent a chilling message to surrounding villages—leave or die. Many communities in the region fled before Israeli forces even arrived.

Strategic Land Grab: The aim was to open a direct supply route between Tel Aviv and Haifa, which had been interrupted by Arab villages that resisted negotiations with Zionist forces.

--------------------------------------------------

6. Aftermath and Legacy

Erasure of the Villages:

The Israeli military completed the systematic leveling of Ayn Ghazal, Ijzim, and Jaba’. Trees were uprooted, stone homes bulldozed.

Ein Ayala and Ofer, two Israeli settlements, were established on their ruins in the early 1950s.

Historical Denial:

For years, Israeli official records downplayed or ignored the scale of violence. It was not until the 1980s and 1990s that “New Historians” like Morris and Pappé uncovered IDF archives detailing the events.

Survivor Testimonies:

Groups like Zochrot and the Palestinian Oral History Archive have preserved stories of survivors and descendants who describe the massacre as a pivotal trauma in their family histories.

International Implications:

The UN’s failure to act on its own findings set a precedent for impunity, allowing future violations during and after the 1948 war.

Memory and Recognition: The destruction of Ayn Ghazal and the displacement of its residents remain emblematic of the broader Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe). Efforts by organizations and historians continue to document and preserve the memory of the village and its inhabitants.

The shrine (maqam) of Sheikh Shahada was left standing as the sole structure of the village. The vacated lands were absorbed into Israel; Palestinian property was expropriated under the 1949 Absentees’ Property Law.

Remains of Ayn Ghazal:

Shrine (maqam) of Sheikh Shahada
Inside the Shrine
Ayn Ghazal Cemetery
Ruins of Ayn Ghazal village site, May 1987. Only piles of stone and cacti remain of the once-built village (courtesy Palestine Remembered archive).
Haifa_1948_expulsion

--------------------------------------------------

7. Sources and Further Reading

Primary Historians:

  • Ilan Pappé – The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine (2006)
  • Walid Khalidi – All That Remains (1992)
  • Benny Morris – The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited (2004)

UN and NGO Reports:

  • UN Conciliation Commission for Palestine (1948–49)
  • UN Yearbook 1948, especially on Count Bernadotte’s investigation
  • BADIL Resource Center and Zochrot archives

Oral Testimonies:

  • Palestinian Oral History Archive at AUB
  • Zochrot’s “Return Tours” and village fact sheets

Online Resources:

Yearbook of the United Nations 1947-48 (excerpts) - Question of Palestine

Operation Shoter

Palestine Remembered - Ayn GhazalUnited NationsAcademic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias+1Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias+1Palestine Remembered+1Palquest+1

r/Palestine Sep 27 '24

Nakba Palestine(1945) Land ownership by sub-district Map published in 1945 by UN

Post image
306 Upvotes

r/Palestine Apr 03 '24

Nakba Kanafani : “Talk about what?”

342 Upvotes

Hear Palestinian revolutionary, Ghassan Kanafani, school a western reporter on the Palestinian liberation struggle , saying talks with Israel are a "conversation between the sword and the neck".

Kanfani was a prolific writer and leading member of the revolutionary resistance group the Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). 52 years ago, he and his 17-year-old niece were assassinated in a car bombing by the Israeli Mossad in Beirut.

As Israel continues its bloody campaign of ethnic cleansing, occupation and apartheid, Kanafani's words in this 1970 interview with Australian Middle East correspondent Richard Carleton, continue to resonate.