UN expert warns of new Palestinian ‘Nakba’

A UN expert has warned that Israel’s attack on Gaza might lead to “mass ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians, which she said could be remembered as another “Nakba.”

Israel has told 1.1 million Palestinians to leave the north of the Gaza Strip ahead of a planned ground invasion by the Israel Defense Forces following the Hamas attack that killed over 1,300 Israelis on Oct. 7.

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, said the forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza would be another “Nakba” — the Arabic word for “catastrophe” — if the invasion goes ahead.

The expression comes from the term applied to the first mass expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes in 1948.

“There is a grave danger that what we are witnessing may be a repeat of the 1948 Nakba, and the 1967 Naksa, yet on a larger scale. The international community must do everything to stop this from happening again,” said Albanese.

“Israel has already carried out mass ethnic cleansing of Palestinians under the fog of war. Again, in the name of self-defence, Israel is seeking to justify what would amount to ethnic cleansing.”

Albanese added: “Continued military operations by Israel have gone well beyond the limits of international law. The international community must stop these egregious violations of international law now, before tragic history is repeated.

“Time is of the essence. Palestinians and Israelis both deserve to live in peace, equality of rights, dignity and freedom.”

She said: “The international community has the responsibility to prevent and protect populations from atrocity crimes.

“Accountability for international crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces and Hamas must also be immediately pursued.”

Since the Hamas attack, Israeli retaliation has caused the deaths of at least 2,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

Israeli authorities have cut off water, electricity, food and fuel supplies to Gaza, declaring a “complete siege” of the enclave.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday warned that “the next stage” of Israel’s operation in Gaza “is coming.”

Juliette Touma, director of communications at the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, said Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have already forced over a million people to flee their homes.