Amman, May 13 (Petra) -- As Palestinians commemorate the 78th anniversary of the 1948 Nakba, or "Catastrophe," officials and experts in Jordan warn that the forced displacement of millions remains an ongoing crime, compounded by modern geopolitical efforts to liquidate the Palestinian cause.

The 1948 Nakba resulted in the expulsion of approximately 957,000 Palestinians from 1,300 villages and cities, according to reports from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. By the end of 2025, the bureau estimated the global Palestinian population at 15.5 million, with 8.1 million living in the diaspora and 7.4 million residing within historic Palestine.

Speakers told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the systematic targeting of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) represents a dangerous turning point. They described the move as a strategic attempt to erase the international witness to the displacement and to undermine UN Resolution 194, which guarantees the right of return and compensation for refugees.

Rafiq Khirfan, Director General of the Department of Palestinian Affairs, stated that this anniversary arrives as Palestinians face unprecedented humanitarian suffering. He noted that the current landscape of destruction and deteriorating health and living conditions mirrors the original tragedies of 1948.

Khirfan emphasized that Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, remains the primary supporter of Palestinian rights. He reiterated Jordan’s firm rejection of any plans for the forced displacement of Palestinians or attempts to bypass their right to self-determination and independent statehood. He further stressed the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting UNRWA and its vital humanitarian mandate.

The Director General also highlighted the King’s stance that Jerusalem is a "red line," noting that the Hashemite Custodianship over Islamic and Christian holy sites is a historical and religious responsibility aimed at preserving the city’s identity and its legal and historical status quo.

Talal al-Shorafat, a former member of the Senate, described Jordan as an unwavering supporter of Palestine. He recalled the historical sacrifices made by the Hashemites, including the martyrdom of late King Abdullah I at Al-Aqsa Mosque, affirming that the Palestinian cause remains central to Jordan’s national policy.

Mohammed Masalha, Professor of Political Science at the University of Jordan, described the Nakba as the foundational conflict between Arab nations and the occupation. He noted that while the 1948 displacement uprooted the majority of the population, the Palestinian cause continues to serve as a unifying force for the Arab world against what he characterized as the broader risks posed by the expansionist Zionist project.

//Petra// AF

13/05/2026 20:51:21