Al-Qalam 
By Al-Qalam Reporter
The KZN Palestine Solidarity Forum and partners marked this week’s Nakba Day, or the Catastrophe, with a motorcade through parts of Durban.
Lubna Nadvi, an executive member of PSF, reminded us about the significance of Nakba Day.
“Nakba is commemorated annually on 15 May. The Nakba refers to the forced exodus and displacement of Palestinians from their homes and villages at the start of the Arab-Israeli war in May 1948, at the hands of Zionist terrorist gangs.
“May 15 is also the date of the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. For Palestinians, it is an annual day of commemoration of the displacement that preceded and followed Israel’s establishment.
Given that Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes in 1948, they have been struggling for the right to return to their original villages and homes for the last 76 years.
The global campaign to return to Palestine, also known as the Right of Return, is a longstanding demand by Palestinian refugees and their descendants who were displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The campaign advocates for their right to return to their ancestral homes and lands in what is now Israel.
The Right of Return is based on United Nations Resolution 194, adopted in 1948, which resolves that “refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date.” The resolution also establishes the United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine to facilitate the return of refugees and payment of compensation for lost properties.
The campaign has gained momentum over the years, with various international organizations, solidarity groups, and human rights advocates supporting the Palestinian right of return. However, the issue remains unresolved and is a major point of contention in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations”, Nadvi said.
Key demands of the campaign include:
1. The right of return for all Palestinian refugees and their descendants.
2. Restitution and compensation for lost properties and assets.
3. An end to Israel’s settlement expansion and occupation of Palestinian territories.
4. Recognition of the State of Palestine and its sovereignty over its territories.
The campaign faces significant challenges, including Israel’s opposition to the right of return, citing security and demographic concerns. Nevertheless, the campaign continues to mobilize international support and solidarity, advocating for a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian refugee crisis.
In Durban, Nakba Day/Day of Return was commemorated with a Motorcade which started and ended at the Overport Secondary School.
