Why do Palestinians call the events of 1948 the Nakba?

Palestinians refer to the events of 1948 as the Nakba, which translates to "the catastrophe," primarily due to the mass displacement of the Palestinian population that occurred during and after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.12

The term reflects the profound trauma of this period, characterized by the following:

• Mass Displacement: During the conflict, more than 600,000 to 700,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes, villages, and neighborhoods, either by being expelled by military forces or by fleeing out of fear of violence.3
• Loss of Community: More than 400 Arab villages disappeared, and the social and economic life of major coastal cities like Jaffa and Haifa disintegrated.3
• Exile and Statelessness: A significant portion of the population became refugees, scattering across the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt.34

For Palestinians, the Nakba represents not only the immediate loss of land and property but also the beginning of a long-term experience of exile and the struggle for national identity and self-determination.56