– Mohd.Naushad Khan
The Embassy of Palestine in New Delhi marked the 77th anniversary of the Nakba on Friday with a solemn ceremony. The event also honored Palestinian journalists, including the late Shireen Abu Akleh.
It paid tribute to 215 journalists killed while covering the war in Gaza. These journalists upheld truth, justice, and resistance.
The ceremony began with the national anthems of India and Palestine. Then, H.E. Abdullah Mohammed Abu Shawesh, Palestine’s Ambassador to India, delivered his speech. H.E. Mohamed Maliki, Morocco’s Ambassador and Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps in India, also addressed the gathering.
Attendees watched short documentary films. These films showed the history of Nakba and the dangers faced by Palestinian journalists.
Ambassador Abu Shawesh called the Nakba a continuing tragedy. He said, “It is not just a past event; it is a wound that still bleeds.”
He recalled how 950,000 Palestinians were forced out in 1948. They became refugees spread across the Middle East and other regions.
He also mentioned the Balfour Declaration of 1917. He described it as “a promise by those who did not own, to those who did not deserve.” He criticized the 1947 UN Partition Plan. He said it favored settlers, even though they were a minority then.
The ceremony focused on Shireen Abu Akleh. She was killed on May 11, 2022, while reporting in the West Bank. “Shireen was the voice of truth,” said the ambassador. “She was killed because she showed the cruelty of the occupation.”
He noted that since her death, 215 Palestinian journalists have died in Gaza. “We will never forget Nakba,” he said. “We will pass on the dream of return. We will remember Shireen and all the martyrs. We will carry their mission forward.”
The event stood as a reminder of the Nakba. It also reaffirmed Palestine’s commitment to justice and truth.
