This month marks the 72nd anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba [Catastrophe], which saw the expulsion of Palestinians from their homes in 1948. It also signifies the ongoing suffering of Palestinian refugees since then, who continue to live in camps inside Palestine and in the Diaspora. Throughout this time, there have been continuous attempts to eradicate their cause and nullify their individual and collective right to return to their original homes. These efforts have taken on a new intensity in light of the US-designed “Deal of the Century” which aims to eliminate the entire Palestinian cause, first and foremost the refugee right of return, which is considered the backbone of the Palestinian cause and the foundation of any just solution to the conflict.
The UN protected the right of return for Palestinian refugees to their original homes and villages immediately after their expulsion in UNGA Resolution 194. This resolution is reaffirmed annually in various UN sessions, granting it a solid position in binding customary international law.
The Palestinian refugee cause is considered one of the most complex international causes, something which prompted the UN to issue Resolution 302 on 8/12/1949 stipulating the establishment of UNRWA, an independent UN international agency with a mission to care for and rehabilitate Palestinian refugees in their five areas of refuge (the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon). The existence of an international UN agency that specializes in offering support to Palestinian refugees is extremely important given that it expresses the continuation of the international community’s responsibility towards these refugees and keeps their cause alive at the international level. It also distinguishes Palestine’s refugees from other refugees in the world who fall under the jurisdiction of UNHCR, thus preserving the exclusivity of their cause.
In this context, Israel and more recently, the United States, have sought to undermine the existence of UNRWA including cutting funding and inciting against it with the ultimate goal of dissolving the agency and ending international commitments to Palestinian refugees and their cause.
The struggle and resistance of the Palestinian people has contributed to turning the refugee cause into a political one, based on the right of the Palestinians to self-determination and liberation from Israeli settlement colonization, rather than being framed as a mere humanitarian and relief cause. This prompted the UN to adopt dozens of resolutions pertaining to the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
There is no doubt that the Nakba of the Palestinian people is ongoing due to Israel’s continuous colonialist and long-term policies based on a premise of expelling the people and settling the land. Since Israel expelled over 66% of the Palestinians in 1948, it has not stopped employing these same policies, which led up to the 1967 “Naksa” (or setback) which in turn displaced around a quarter of a million Palestinians. Israel’s forced expulsion of Palestinians has continued in several ways since then.
Following are Israel’s most employed forced expulsion policies:
- The widespread use of war crimes with the objective of expelling Palestinians from their land such as during the 1948, 1956 and 1967 wars. These resulted in the destruction of over 500 villages, the depopulation of several others such as Deir Yassin and Kufr Qassem and in Israeli massacres of indigenous Palestinians such as in the village of Dawaymeh. The outcome has been one of the most complicated refugee problems in the world in addition to creating thousands of internally displaced Palestinians.
- Manipulating legal personal status inside the occupied Palestinian territories in a manner that deprives ordinary residents or those with the right of residency to live in their own homes.
- Discriminatory urban planning which encourages Jewish settlement expansion and inhibits Palestinian construction in certain areas such as Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley and the Negev Desert. Due to this policy, homes and entire villages are demolished under the pretext of “illegal construction.”
- Stripping Palestinians of their properties according to discriminatory laws and regulations resulting in the forced evacuation of families from their homes.
- Expulsion under security pretexts and military emergency law. This method has been widely used in the Palestinian territories since the start of the occupation and continues to be used to this day.
- Creating intolerable circumstances in certain areas that eventually prompt residents to leave their homes and move to other areas.
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ورقة حقائق حول اللاجئين الفلسطينيين
تاريخ النشر: 17/05/2020
بقلم: مفتاح
تمر الذكرى الأليمة الـ72 للنكبة الفلسطينية في هذه الأيام في ظل استمرار معاناة اللاجئين الفلسطينيين الذين طُرِدوا من ديارهم عام 1948 إلى مخيمات اللجوء داخل الوطن والشتات، في ظل الحملات الرامية إلى تصفية قضيتهم وإنهاء حقوقهم الفردية والجماعية بالعودة إلى ديارهم الأصلية، ويبرز ذلك بشكل كبير في هذه الأثناء فيما يُطلَق عليه بـ"صفقة القرن"، التي تستهدف تصفية القضية الفلسطينية، وفي مقدمتها حق اللاجئين الفلسطينيين بالعودة، التي تعتبر العمود الفقري للقضية الفلسطينية وأساس الحل العادل لها.
وتشكِّل قضية اللاجئين المفصل الرئيسي للقضية الفلسطينية، وقد كفلت الأمم المتحدة حقهم بالعودة إلى ديارهم وقراهم الأصلية منذ اليوم الأول لتهجيرهم القسري، وذلك عبر القرار الدولي رقم 194 الذي يتم التأكيد عليه سنوياً في جلسات الأمم المتحدة المختلفة، الأمر الذي جعله مجسَّداً بقوة ضمن القانون الدولي العرفي الملزم تبعاً لتكراره المستمر.
وتعتبر قضية اللاجئين الفلسطينيين من أكثر القضايا الدولية تعقيداً، الأمر الذي دفع الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة إلى إصدار القرار رقم 302 بتاريخ 8/12/1949 الخاص بتأسيس وكالة الأونروا، وهي وكالة دولية مستقلة تابعة للأمم المتحدة مهمتها رعاية وتأهيل اللاجئين الفلسطينيين في مناطق لجوئهم الخمسة تحديداً (الضفة الغربية، وقطاع غزة، والأردن، وسوريا، ولبنان)، ويعتبر وجود وكالة دولية تابعة للأمم المتحدة يتحدد اختصاصها بتقديم الدعم للاجئين الفلسطينيين أمراً شديد الأهمية، كونه يُعبِّر عن استمرار تحمل المجتمع الدولي لمسؤولياته تجاه اللاجئين الفلسطينيين وإبقاء قضيتهم حية على المستوى الدولي، وتمييزهم عن غيرهم من اللاجئين في العالم الخاضعين لولاية المفوضية الدولية لشؤون اللاجئين UNHCHR، الأمر الذي يحافظ على خصوصية قضيتهم.
وتسعى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية والاحتلال الاسرائيلي إلى محاربة وجود الأونروا بجميع السبل وقطع مصادر التمويل عنها، والتحريض عليها، وذلك في سبيل حل الوكالة، وبالتالي إنهاء الالتزامات الدولية تجاه اللاجئين الفلسطينيين وقضيتهم العادلة، في محاولة لتصفية القضية والبحث عن حلول مشبوهة لإنهائها.
لقد ساهم نضال الشعب الفلسطيني بتحويل قضية اللاجئين الفلسطينيين إلى قضية سياسية مبنية على حق الشعب الفلسطيني بتقرير مصيره وتحرره من الاستعمار الاستيطاني، وليس مجرد قضية إغاثية إنسانية، الأمر الذي دفع الأمم المتحدة إلى اعتماد عشرات القرارات الخاصة بحق عودة اللاجئين الفلسطينيين، والتي تعتبر قضيتهم الأساس في أي حل عادل للقضية الفلسطينية.
ولا شك أنَّ نكبة الشعب الفلسطيني ما زالت مستمرة بفعل سياسات الاحتلال الاستعمارية المستمرة وطويلة الأمد القائمة على أساس طرد الشعب واستعمار الوطن واستيطان الأرض. فلم ينفك الاحتلال منذ تهجيره لما يزيد عن 66% من الشعب الفلسطيني عام 1948، عن الاستمرار بذات السياسات في عام 1967 التي تسببت بدورها بتشريد حوالي ربع مليون فلسطيني، وما لحقها من تهجير قسري مستمر بحق كل من هو فلسطيني إلى يومنا هذا.
ويمكن لنا تحديد أبرز السياسات الإسرائيلية الاستعمارية المستخدمة التي يعتمدها الاحتلال الاسرائيلي بالتهجير القسري المستمر على النحو التالي:
- استخدام جرائم الحرب بشكل واسع بهدف تهجير الفلسطينيين من أراضيهم، كما حدث إبان حروب 1948 و1956 و1967 التي أدت إلى تدمير أكثر من 500 قرية وتهجير قرى بأكملها كدير ياسين وكفر قاسم ومجزرة الدوايمة، وهو ما تسبب في واحدةٍ من أعقد مشاكل اللاجئين في العالم، فضلًا عن العدد الكبير من المشردين داخليًا.
- هندسة الوضعية القانونية الشخصية في الأراضي الفلسطينية المحتلة على نحو يحرم المقيمين بصفة اعتيادية أو الأشخاص المستحقين للإقامة من الحق في العيش في ديارهم.
- التخطيط الحضري والقُطري التمييزي الذي يشجع التوسع اليهودي الاستيطاني ويكبح العمران الفلسطيني في مناطق معينة مثل القدس وغور الأردن وصحراء النقب. وبسببه تُهدَم منازلُ وقرى بأكملها بذريعة "البناء غير المشروع."
- تجريد الفلسطينيين من ممتلكاتهم بموجب قوانين ولوائح تمييزية تُسفر عن إخلاء الأسر من مساكنها قسرًا.
- الترحيل بموجب ذرائع أمنية وقانون الطوارئ العسكري. وقد استُخدمت هذ الطريقة على نطاق واسع في الأراضي الفلسطينية المحتلة في بداية الاحتلال، ولا تزال تُستَخدم بين الفينة والأخرى.
- خلق ظروفٍ لا تطاق في مناطق معينة تحمل السكان المدنيين في نهاية المطاف على ترك منازلهم والانتقال إلى مناطق أخرى. وعوداً على بدء، وتأكيداً على الحق المشروع والثابت للاجئين والنازحين والمهجرين الفلسطينيين بالعودة، نقدم لكم الحقائق التالية:
للاطلاع على ورقة الحقائق بصيغة PDF
Sexual violence as a weapon of genocide
Date posted: October 09, 2024
By MIFTAH
Background
Since the beginning of its illegal occupation in 1967, Israel has detained over 1 million Palestinians, who are tried in Israeli military courts with a conviction rate close to 100%. Israel also detains Palestinians with no charge or trial for an indefinite period under so-called “administrative detention”. This policy of mass arbitrary arrest is one of the tools used to maintain Israel's illegal occupation, apartheid regime and settler-colonial project.
To date, over 10,400 Palestinians have been arbitrarily arrested since October, 2023. The conditions of Palestinian prisoners have significantly deteriorated since the beginning of the Israeli genocide in Gaza, and imprisoned Palestinians are being subjected to torture, starvation, violent cell raids, including with tear gas, deliberate medical negligence, denial of food, water, sanitary pads and sanitation, as well as denial of lawyers and family visits.
Despite the absolute prohibition of torture and ill-treatment under international law, Israeli occupation forces and prison authorities employ various torture and ill-treatment techniques against almost all Palestinian political prisoners and detainees, including women and children, leaving grave physical and psychological damage. Israeli prison authorities, occupation forces and interrogators feel emboldened to commit such acts of torture with full impunity, knowing that neither the complicit Israeli legal system nor the international community will hold them accountable.
While sexual violence against Palestinian women and men has long been a tactic of torture at Israeli military checkpoints, during raids on their own homes and inside prisons, it has rapidly increased since the start of the genocide in Gaza. Palestinian women are often hesitant to share such stories, in fear of the associated social stigma, something which Israel exploits, and also due to the belief that Israel’s crimes will go unpunished.
Access the full factsheet here.
Healthcare Restricted: Female Cancer Patients in Gaza
Date posted: June 07, 2023
By MIFTAH
Background:
The Israeli-imposed siege and the frequent aggressions targeting medical facilities in Gaza have debilitated the health sector and its capacity to provide proper medical services. This is exacerbated in cases of chronic diseases, which gives rise to a need to leave the Gaza Strip to receive medical treatment in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, or elsewhere. However, Israel imposes a strict and discriminatory permit regime, which has a disproportionate impact on medical patients given their conditions, and it is not unusual for these permits to be significantly delayed or ultimately refused by Israel.
The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) collected questionnaires from 102 women diagnosed with cancer in the Gaza Strip to assess the quality of the treatment, availability of equipment, accessibility, and referral process.
The full report is accessible here.
Conclusion and recommendations:
The 16-year-long Israeli-imposed blockade and closure on Gaza have had detrimental impacts on the health sector in the besieged Strip. Specifically, the siege has compromised the ability of the healthcare sector to deliver proper medical services due to the absence of crucial medication, equipment, and supplies under flimsy security pretexts. Ultimately, frequent aggressions and targeting of health facilities and the Israeli-imposed siege on Gaza compromise the availability, accessibility, and quality of healthcare services available to Palestinians in Gaza.
MIFTAH urges the international community to:
- Put an end to Israel’s impunity and hold it accountable for its persistent crimes, including the crime against humanity of apartheid, through the adoption of effective and concrete measures;
- Exert pressure to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip and allow for the free movement of people and goods;
- Ensure the urgent implementation of UNSCR 1325 to provide immediate protection for Palestinian women and to put an end to Israel’s impunity;
- Support the UN Special Rapporteur in the oPt, the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion, the ICC investigation and the UN Commission of Inquiry.
The summary factsheet is accessible here.
Financial indicators for the Family Protection Bill
Date posted: May 17, 2023
By MIFTAH
The legislation of the family protection bill is aimed at the protection of the family itself as an institution, and to guarantee its preservation. Palestinian legislators are aware of the importance of this bill, which is why all ministries and official institutions committed to developing its relevant programs, policies and plans, each according to their field of expertise. Their goal is to contribute to the promotion of a culture that combats domestic violence and encourages the response of public policies to this objective, through education, health, legislation and the media. Another objective is to track the bill’s impact and periodically assess it in cooperation with other civil societies. This paper focuses on some of the financial indicators pertaining to this bill.
All family members in Palestine are subjected to violence, including children, minors, women and men. However, married women remain the sector most vulnerable to domestic violence according to a 2019 Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics survey. It said 29.4% of married women had been subjected to at least one type of violence by their husbands as opposed to 13% of men who had been subjected to violence by their wives, by their own confession. A total of 44.7% of individuals who have never been married have been subjected toviolence;7.6% of the elderly and 44.2% of children(12-17yearsold) were the victims of violence at the hands of one of their parents. Although a high percentage of women have been victims of violence from their spouse, a considerable percentage of these women, around 60.3% preferred to stay silent about the assault. Only a small percentage of women asked for help through official avenues; 2.9% went to a defence lawyer to file a lawsuit against their husbands, 1.3% went to the police or a family protection unit and 1.4% went to the centres for mental, social and legal aid.
Financial indicators for the Family Protection Bill
| Article of Bill/Law by Decree | Relevant party | Estimated cost |
| Article(4) specialization of Ministry of Social Development: The Ministry, in cooperation with government and civil society organizations, provide the following services to victims of domestic violence: 1.Protection and fulfilment of needs of the victim; economically and socially empowering her and reintegrating her in society in order to preserve the family fabric, while ensuring not to equate the victim with the perpetrator. 2.Appointing protection counsellors in all directorates and qualifying them to deal with domestic violence cases 3.Providingsocial, psychological and legal experts to provide victim support 4.Ensuringthe provision of social, psychological, health and legal services to domestic violence victims in coordination with relevant parties. 5.Preparing rehabilitation programs for perpetrators of domestic violence crimes 6.Coordination and cooperation with government and civil society organizations to provide the necessary training for the enforcers of this law by decree. Preparing the necessary preventative plans and programs against domestic violence |
Ministry of Social Development | ILS12 million over 3 years on average of ILS4 million year, based on a study prepared by the Ministry of Social Development |
| Article 6: Family and Minors Protection Police: In accordance with the provisions of this bill/law by decree, a family and minor protection police will be established, with branches set up in all districts of the homeland. It’s specializations are the following: 1.Goingtothe place of the domestic violence incident when the informer states that the violence has occurred, is about to occur is ongoing; or in case of violation of a restraining order, even if the informer is not the victim 2.Providingfree 24-hourhotlinestohelp victims |
Palestinian police and Family and Minors Protection Department
Reform and Rehabilitation Centres Department |
ILS7.3 million/year (the study is based on the number of those working in the family and minors protection department and their mean salary)
ILS1.3 million/year (the study is based on the number of those working in reform and rehabilitation enters, which includes special sections for women boarders) |
| Article7: Family Protection Prosecution 1.In accordance with the provision of this bill/law by decree, a prosecution’s office will be established to follow up on domestic violence cases in all districts and will operate under the supervision of the Attorney General in accordance with penal measures in force. 2. This family protection prosecution office will promptly investigate domestic violence incidents while also preserving the privacy and dignity of the victim |
Family Protection Prosecution | ILS1.7 million, based on the number of relevant prosecution agents and their mean salaries |
| Article10: parties qualified to issue restraining orders 1.Restrainingorders will be issued by the following parties of their own accord: a. Family Protection Prosecution b. The presiding judge |
Presiding judges | ILS1.9 million, based on the number of judges and their mean salaries |
| Total expected estimated cost | ILS16.2 million |
The table above shows that the estimated and main additional cost of the Ministry of Social Development to be around ILS4 million a year, considering that the other parties (police, prosecution and courts) are currently carrying out their roles without fully allocating specialized departments for protection from violence. However, if these parties do allot specialized departments for protection from violence, overall costs will reach approximately ILS16.2 million. Nonetheless, even if this cost is incurred, it still only comprises a small part of public expenditures, approximately 0.1%. Overall public expenditures for 2022 amount to approximately ILS16.2 billion, which means the cost of passing this bill and implementing its provisions will not constitute financial burden on the general budget and will not be an obstacle to ratifying the law by decree.
Furthermore, it should be noted that while it is imperative to calculate some of the costs resulting from violence against women, the reaerate the high costs as well. The secret social costs, which impact society as a whole. Data from the Ministry of Social Development showed (see graph), that violence exercised against women has prompted around 60% of them to flee their homes. Also, 18% of them attempted suicide in addition to suffering from mental and physical illnesses, unwanted pregnancies or others. Calculating expenses incurred from violence is not an easy process and there are no national data or figures that can measure the impact violence has on the state’s general budget due to the prevalent mentality towards violence as an issue associated only with women. This is especially true when the conversation is about the indirect and intangible effects of violence, including:
Violations of human rights; negative social, economic and political impacts; working women who get sick and need to take sick leave; lack of focus and productivity; impact of violence on children and academic failure; the rise in the percentage of school dropouts among children; the rise in long-term unemployment rates; the percentage of homeless children who become a burden on society; government expenditures for medical treatment; safehouses; therapy; monitoring cases of violence against women; individual expenses for following up on legal cases and lawyer fees; loss of income because of repeated absence from work or inefficacy; social expenses resulting from the breakup of the family; expenses of training individuals on how to deal with cases of violence; expenses for issuing laws and legislation on the protection of women from violence.
Confirmation of the above is that the UN believes the economic, social and health costs of violence against women are, to a large extent, undocumented and unrecognized. However, these remain colossal, according to researchers, specialists and defenders of women’s rights.
To view the full factsheet as PDF
