Written by SCI Catalunya

In 1948, the State of Israel’s offensive left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians without land or home. 72 years later, the struggle for the right of return and for the defence of the Palestinian population’s human rights is still alive through organized civil society.

We, as SCI, have been working side by side with organisations from the south of the Mediterranean Sea in the defence of young people’s rights. In particular, in the defence of those nations without a State that suffer the consequences of a military occupation, such as Palestine and Western Sahara. This 15th of May, we commemorate the 72 years of the Nakba, the “catastrophe” that remembers the brutal war that forced the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were left without land or home.

Entrance of Aida refugee camp, Palestine (2017). There is the Key that symbolizes the right of return in the top of it. © SCI Catalunya

Nowadays, the consequences of the Nakba and the Zionist policies of the State of Israel keep making the life of thousands of Palestinians impossible. Despite this, there are lots of people who, far from resigning, keep fighting for human rights and in defence of the simple fact of existence. From SCI we work with organizations from the West Bank, such as the Palestine of 48. This 15th of May, we want to share with you the task that three entities, with whom we collaborate, carry out: Popular Struggle Committees in South Hebron Hills, Youth Against Settlements in Hebron and the Youth Centre in Aida Camp (PSCC in Bethlehem).

Sami Hurriani and Hafeth Hurriani are part of the Popular Struggle Committees in South Hebron Hills, a resistance project that defends the territory in front of the Israeli occupation. They explain life conditions in Sumud Freedom camp and the challenges that they have to face. PSCC is an SCI partner organisation in Palestine.

Youth Against Settlement is a non-violent Palestinian organisation in Hebron, West Bank, that wants to end with the illegal expansion of the Israeli settlements. They do it using the civil resistance and the non-violence. YAS encourages Hebron’s population to stay in the zone, especially young people who live in the H2 area, which is under the Israeli military control. Mohanned, who takes part in this organisation, explains Hebron’s situation.

Munther Amira, member of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committees (PSCC) explains the situation in Aida Refugee Camp, located two kilometres away from the city of Bethlehem, in Palestine. The PSCC was formed by relevant activists from the occupied territories across Palestine. Popular committees present a unique form of community based organizing and resistance in the tradition of the first Palestinian Intifada. These diverse, non-partisan committees lead community resistance to Israeli occupation in various forms, such as marches, strikes, demonstrations, direct actions and legal campaigns, as well as supporting boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS).