The demand by the Israeli government for over one million Palestinians to leave their homes in northern Gaza and move south is a haunting reminder of past events. As someone who has worked as a journalist in the region and extensively studied the history of Gaza’s refugees, the gravity of the situation is not lost on me. Almost everyone in Gaza is a refugee descended from one of 200 Arab villages that were decimated by Israeli forces in 1948 during the creation of the Jewish state. The remnants of these villages lie within close proximity to the Gaza border, with some refugees even able to see their land through the fence.
It was not surprising that Israel’s response to Hamas’s actions resulted in an intense aerial bombardment. Unfortunately, innocent Palestinians in Gaza have paid a devastating price, with thousands losing their lives.
What I did not foresee was the lack of intervention from Western nations. Not only did they allow the situation to unfold, but they also actively supported Israel, supplying them with weapons and effectively granting them immunity from international law. This abandonment of the Palestinians to their dire circumstances is disheartening.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the support of Israel’s allies, announced on Friday that 1.1 million Gazans should be “evacuated” from the north to the south of Gaza. Netanyahu claims that his main concern is to protect civilians from the expected ground invasion by crushing Hamas. However, these claims are empty and only serve to shield Israel from accusations of war crimes. It is important to note that as of now, 1,800 Palestinians have already lost their lives. Forcing one million people to move south will only lead to more suffering, especially since there are no safe places for civilians to seek refuge.
The tactics employed by Israeli forces in the expulsion of Palestinians from nearby villages in 1948 mirror what we see happening today. The process began with psychological warfare, including warnings urging them to leave, the dropping of leaflets, and threats of dire consequences if they refused. Villages were often bombarded before ground troops moved in, resulting in the loss of many innocent lives and the occurrence of massacres. The villages were typically surrounded, leaving only one exit open for Palestinians to flee. The survivors eventually sought refuge in the Gaza Strip, which was considered a safe area. In December 1948, United Nations Resolution 194 granted them the right to return, but Israel rejected this.
If Netanyahu proceeds with his “evacuation” plan, history and the current situation suggest that the refugees will indeed flee, just as they did in 1948. The only potential escape route for them is into Egypt. While Egypt vehemently opposes accepting refugees, as it would imply collaboration in permanent ethnic cleansing, the escalating humanitarian crisis at its borders may force a change in their stance. If Gazans are forced to flood into the Sinai, there is a possibility that they may not be permitted to return.
The risks for Netanyahu are immense, especially considering the Israeli hostages being held in Gaza. However, with his political future already in jeopardy, he may calculate that there is nothing left to lose. Additionally, the Israeli right-wing has long advocated for the expulsion of Gaza’s population into the Sinai region.
In essence, if the Western world and other influential actors fail to intervene and stop this “evacuation,” it could pave the way for a process of ethnic cleansing, escalating the risk of a regional conflict.
Similar to the expulsions carried out by Israel in 1948, the current leadership will likely propagate a narrative suggesting that there can be no secure future for Israel unless the entire Gaza population is permanently expelled. Subsequently, negotiations will ensue regarding whether the refugees have the right to return to Gaza, which was already a place of exile for them.
Some may deem this scenario to be overly alarmist, but Palestinian refugees are all too familiar with its reality. Israel has long desired for the world to forget about its ethnic cleansing of Palestinian villages in 1948. Right from the beginning of the displacement in 1948, Israel constructed its own version of events, asserting that Palestinians fled under the orders of Arab leaders. When they attempted to return to their villages after the war, they were labeled as “infiltrators” and later branded as “terrorists.”
Since the blockade of Gaza by Israel and Egypt in 2006-2007, effectively isolating it from the rest of the world, Israel has held onto the hope that the truth of 1948 would remain concealed. Archives have been inaccessible, and any remnants of villages have been demolished. However, many Gazans today not only remember 1948, but also feel as if they are reliving it.
I have personally spoken with friends within the strip who are resolute in their determination not to be uprooted for a second time. They express a preference to remain in their homes and perish, if that’s what fate demands.
(This article was originally published in The Guardian and written by Sarah Helm, a former Middle East correspondent and diplomatic editor of The Independent)
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
