A coalition of pro-Palestinian organisations is holding a public gathering at Faneromeni Square in Nicosia on Friday, May 15, at 19:00, as communities across the world mobilise to mark 78 years since the Nakba as part of a global day of action.
The Nakba refers to the mass displacement of Palestinians that accompanied the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. The word means “catastrophe” in Arabic, in which more than 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes and lands and more than 500 Palestinian villages and towns were destroyed.
The organisers describe the Nakba as not only a historical event but an ongoing reality, pointing to military occupation, blockade, displacement, genocide and apartheid affecting Palestinians across Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territories, refugee camps and the global diaspora.
The event is being held as part of the international day of action commemorating the Nakba.
The organisers have set out six demands, including an immediate end to violence against civilians, respect for international law, accountability for war crimes, an end to genocide and occupation, protection of Palestinian lives and cultural heritage, and recognition of Palestinian refugees’ right of return under international law.
The evening will include poetry, live music, speeches and cultural expressions.
The event is organised by AFOA, BDS Cyprus, Cyprus Palestine Solidarity Action, Far Right Watch, Genocide-Free Cyprus, Global Sumud Flotilla Cyprus and United for Palestine Cyprus.
