A community rally will be held this Sunday, 17 May, starting in Apex Park, Byron Bay opposite the Beach Hotel at 11am as part of a Nationwide Day of Action to mark the 78th anniversary of the Nakba.
May 15 is Nakba Day, from the Arabic word for ‘catastrophe’ and it is the date in 1948 when the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians began during the Arab-Israeli war, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes and land. It is commemorated every year around the world.
Since December 1948, the United Nations has called for refugee return, property restitution and compensation and, despite countless UN resolutions, those rights remain denied.
Family friendly
‘It will be a family-friendly day in solidarity with the people of Palestine where we come together to remember – as well as advocating for justice for Palestine to our government, which is helping to support the ongoing Nakba,’ says Subhi Awad, President of Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine.
‘The genocide in Gaza continues, as does the illegal Israeli occupation and settlement of the West Bank, none of which has ceased despite a so-called ceasefire,’ says Subhi.
‘Australia’s government has faced growing calls to act – to sanction Israel and cease providing it with weapons or material support – the silence in the face of repeated requests to show moral leadership and compassion to Palestinians is complicity. We must keep speaking out and coming together like we will be on Sunday to show we are a community that feels so strongly about this and needs to see action from our leaders,’ says Cate Coorey, Vice President of Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine.
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