For displaced Palestinians in Syria, the Israeli conflict evokes Nakba and solidarity | Capabilities

World Courant

Idlib, Syria – In a small home in northwestern Syria, Muhammad Haninun sits glued to his cellular phone after the most recent Israeli assaults in Gaza.

For over a month he watched movies of the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip and the displacement of civilians attempting to flee the bombardment. In the meantime, the occasions deliver again clear reminiscences of what he endured 75 years in the past.

The 80-year-old can not help however take into consideration the similarities between what he sees in Gaza and what he skilled when he and his household have been displaced through the Nakba, or “disaster,” in 1948, when Israel was based and displaced greater than 750,000 folks hit. Palestinians have been forcibly expelled from their land and 1000’s have been killed.

“The Palestinian tragedy is occurring once more,” Haninun mentioned. “The folks of Gaza are dealing with conflict with out receiving the identical help we acquired earlier than.”

Muhammad Haninun, 80, pictured together with his six-year-old grandson Mahmoud, is set to return to Palestine at some point (Ali Haj Suleiman/Al Jazeera)

‘A damaged report’

Since October 7, when the armed wing of the Palestinian group Hamas breached the Gaza barrier and attacked southern Israel, Western international locations, led by america, has rushed to sentence the motion that has dominated the besieged Gaza Strip since 2006. .

The condemnation was adopted by Western monetary and army help for Israel, which has been ruthlessly bombing Gaza, one of many world’s most populous areas, for 35 days. Since October 7, at the very least 10,812 Palestinians, together with 4,412 kids, have been killed in Israeli assaults on Gaza. Greater than 1,400 folks have been murdered in Israel.

Equally, within the first half of the twentieth century, Britain supplied army help within the type of safety and weapons to the Zionists, inspired Jewish immigration from Europe to Palestine, and allowed them to expel a whole bunch of 1000’s of Palestinians from their houses whereas they constructed a brand new nation. stands for itself.

In November 1948, Israelis used planes to bomb the northern village of Tarshiha in rural Acre, destroying three homes – together with Haninun’s residence – and killing seven of his family.

“Earlier than that, we had evacuated our houses a number of instances for 2 or three days and returned. We did not take something with us,” he remembers. “We thought we’d return, particularly since we have been unable to take away the useless from the rubble.”

However they by no means might.

Haninun, then 5 years previous, and 4 members of his household have been pressured to maneuver between seven cities in Lebanon and Syria earlier than being allowed to remain in a refugee camp in Aleppo, a “tragic” atmosphere with a small room for every household. no kitchen, rest room or working water and shared bogs.

He remembers Arab radio stations and governments promising Palestinians a fast return — after seven days, then after seven weeks, then after seven months, till greater than seven a long time had handed.

“This cracked report has been taking part in since 1948, when folks fled from one village to a different, solely to be confronted with massacres as a result of the enemy regarded ‘others’ as animals and killed them similar to killing cattle – and this logic continues to be the identical in the present day.”

Haninun moved to the Syrian capital Damascus to review historical past. He then labored as a instructor in Aleppo and lived within the camp there, till the Syrian conflict pressured him to flee to Idlib in 2014. However what he nonetheless longs for is the prospect to at some point return to Palestine – and his roots.

“There’s nonetheless hope,” Haninun mentioned. “If I die earlier than returning to Palestine, I’ll inform my kids and grandchildren that you’ve a proper to that land and that we’re its true homeowners.”

Scouts collect in central Idlib to point out help for Gaza (Ali Haj Suleiman/Al Jazeera)

Strengthening the Palestinian trigger

On Thursday, the Ain Jalut Scouts and the Syrian Personal Scouts marched by way of central Idlib, simply certainly one of many actions held within the space in latest weeks in help of Gaza.

Ayman Muhammad, 40, a displaced Palestinian dwelling within the northwestern Syrian metropolis and the scout chief of the Ain Jalut group, instructed Al Jazeera that the injustice suffered by Palestinians for 75 years is the motivation for organizing protests, elevating cash and offering help. by way of social media.

The Israeli conflict on Gaza has strengthened the Palestinian trigger, Mohammed believes. “Right now the West and the East, from one finish to the opposite, stand with the Palestinian folks towards the aggression.”

In October, main cities world wide witnessed demonstrations involving a whole bunch of 1000’s of individuals to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and freedom for Palestine.

Palestinians in Idlib can’t stand by, Mohammed mentioned. Regardless of troublesome financial and safety situations in Idlib, he added, members of the Palestinian group and Syrian supporters right here have managed to lift about $400,000 in donations for Gaza.

Syrian activists additionally took half in demonstrations in help of Palestine, regardless of bombardments by authorities forces and Russian warplanes concentrating on rallies within the nation’s final insurgent stronghold.

For the Palestinians in northern Syria who’re experiencing the Syrian conflict, the Syrian revolution and the Palestinian trigger are actually inextricably linked, Mohammed believes. “Victory will come for each causes, as a result of the suitable won’t be misplaced so long as we demand it,” he mentioned.

For displaced Palestinians in Syria, the Israeli conflict evokes Nakba and solidarity | Capabilities

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