Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

Nakba conference calls for educating Europeans about realities of life for Palestinians and their cause

Nakba conference calls for educating Europeans about realities of life for Palestinians and their cause

Delegates at a conference in Belgium to discuss the Nakba — the word, meaning catastrophe, used by Palestinians to describe the loss of their land when the state of Israel was established — called for intensive efforts to educate and inform European citizens, governments, parliamentarians and other decision-makers about the reality of life for Palestinians, and attract support for their cause.
Speakers at the event, titled “75 Years and the Nakba Still Continues,” included European and Palestinian academics and experts in politics, law and the media, the Kuwait News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The one-day event, which took place at the Brussels Press Club on Tuesday, was organized by the European Palestinian Council for Political Relations, a nongovernmental organization based in the Belgian capital.

In a video message to the conference, Manu Pineda, a Spanish member of the European Parliament who chairs its Delegation for Relations with Palestine, said: “The Nakba was a unilateral decision by the Zionist movement to occupy Palestinian territories and expel Palestinians from their villages.

“It was what we called the beginning of the policy of ethnic cleansing which continues till this day and which aims at the total annexation of the historic territory of Palestine. The international community must take concrete action to end this apartheid regime.”

Hasan Ayoub, a professor of political science at Al-Najah University in the West Bank city of Nablus, presented delegates with a historical overview of the Nakba and the crimes committed by the occupying force.

The conference examined four main topics: The story of the Palestinian people and the threats they have faced, including ethnic cleansing and the denial of their right to self-determination; the situation in Jerusalem, settlement activity and the detention of Palestinians as a continuing reality of the Nakba;
the plight of Palestinian refugees inside and outside of Palestine; and ways to encourage the adoption of European policies on Palestine that are more just for the Palestinian people.

Majid Al-Zeer, the head and founder of the European Palestinian Council for Political Relations, said: “The Israeli crimes associated with the Palestinian Nakba are many but the common denominator among them is the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians and their uprooting from their lands.”

The council aims to ensure the Palestinian cause and its history remain at the forefront of the minds of European decision-makers, to encourage them to work in the name of justice, he added.

The UN has adopted the 75th anniversary of the Nakba this year as an international day of commemoration, and has requested an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, which will test the entire international system’s commitment to justice, Al-Zeer said.

In its efforts to achieve its goals of raising awareness in the EU of the Palestinian situation, the council engages in various activities, including conferences, meetings with political delegations, letter-writing campaigns and petitions, he added.

Renowned Belgian journalist Loos Baudouin, who writes on Middle Eastern affairs for Belgian daily Le Soir, told delegates he has come under pressure from Jewish groups in Belgium to alter his objective and fair reporting on Palestine, but refuses to give in to them.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
×