David Goldsworthy

In 1948, the Zionist forces took over Palestine, resulting in genocide and displacement of countless Palestinian families. This event occurred when Jewish settlers declared the establishment of a new state in what was until then part In 1948, the Zionist forces took over Palestine, resulting in genocide and displacement of countless Palestinian families. This event occurred when Jewish settlers declared the establishment of a new state in what was until then part of British-mandated Palestine. The newly formed state became known as Israel and its founding marked the beginning of a long and painful conflict between Jews and Arabs. Many Palestinians were forced to leave their homes at gunpoint by Israeli forces. In some cases, villagers were rounded up and herded into refugee camps on foot. Along with mass evacuations came violence; raids on villages often resulted in mass killings, torture, rape and looting by the Israeli military. Hundreds of whole villages were completely destroyed, leaving thousands without shelter or sustenance. These events are known as the Nakba (catastrophe) by Palestinians who refer to it as a formative moment in their history and continue to commemorate it each year on May 15th. The displacement of Palestinians resulted not only from direct military force but also from other policies enacted by the Israeli government such as population transfer laws which allowed for Zionist immigrants to take over Palestinian homes and lands without compensation or permission from owners. This policy was first implemented during Operation Dani in 1948-49 where more than 200 Palestinian villages were destroyed or depopulated through expulsions or massacres making room for Jewish settlements instead. These atrocities led to around three-quarters of a million Palestinians becoming refugees fleeing their homeland while many others remained intern