The days since the murderous attack by Hamas on the Israeli communities near the Gaza border and the tense anticipation of an Israeli ground attack have allowed Israel to sharpen preparations and define better the objectives of the attack and the means to achieve them. At the same time, they open the door to the involvement of various foreign parties, and revive old anxieties on the Palestinian side, which are becoming a unifying factor among the Palestinians and the Arab societies in the regional environment.
One sentiment is the "anxiety of the Nakba" that has become more palpable in the eyes of the Palestinians since the IDF Spokesperson began calling on the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to head south – a call issued with the goal of not harming innocent civilians. Many have indeed gone south, but many others have remained in their homes and refuse or are afraid to evacuate in the event they will not be able to return.
This anxiety, it turns out, is not just the fate of the residents – it is a central issue for leaders in the region. The President of Egypt, who is afraid an Israeli attempt to “flood” Egyptian territory in Sinai with Palestinians, announced that he would not accept them, expressed fear that they would start, as refugees, to use Sinai territory of as a point of departure for their war against Israel, and suggested that Israel move them to the Negev until the war ends and then return them to their homes. The King of Jordan announced that this was a red line and that there would be no Palestinian refugees in Jordan or Egypt. Abu Mazen, chairman of the Palestinian Authority, warned against this move, saying that "we will not allow a new Nakba in the 21st century," and called on the Security Council to pass a resolution condemning the Israeli move. For their part, Hamas leaders have called on the residents not to respond to the calls of the IDF and not to head south.
It seems that the call to the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to head south has raised the level of anxiety among the Palestinians. The Israeli determination in this war heightens the emotions among the Palestinians since 1948 reflected in oaths they swore to each other over the years that there would not be a "second Nakba," oaths that were the foundation of the sumud strategy, the steadfast perseverance in their war against Israel. According to this strategy, not abandoning territory is the key to prevent a "second Nakba."
The large movement of residents from the north of the Gaza Strip to the south in the midst of a war full of contradictory and dubious messages among Arab and non-Arab figures is a unifying Palestinian element and a challenging aspect that forces Arab heads of states to side with the Palestinians, emphasize the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and increase the pressure on Israel. This might complicate Israel’s ground maneuver.
It is therefore correct to underscore what was already stated clearly, that there is no intention to reoccupy the Strip, that there will be no refugees, and that everyone will be able to return to their homes.
The days since the murderous attack by Hamas on the Israeli communities near the Gaza border and the tense anticipation of an Israeli ground attack have allowed Israel to sharpen preparations and define better the objectives of the attack and the means to achieve them. At the same time, they open the door to the involvement of various foreign parties, and revive old anxieties on the Palestinian side, which are becoming a unifying factor among the Palestinians and the Arab societies in the regional environment.
One sentiment is the "anxiety of the Nakba" that has become more palpable in the eyes of the Palestinians since the IDF Spokesperson began calling on the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to head south – a call issued with the goal of not harming innocent civilians. Many have indeed gone south, but many others have remained in their homes and refuse or are afraid to evacuate in the event they will not be able to return.
This anxiety, it turns out, is not just the fate of the residents – it is a central issue for leaders in the region. The President of Egypt, who is afraid an Israeli attempt to “flood” Egyptian territory in Sinai with Palestinians, announced that he would not accept them, expressed fear that they would start, as refugees, to use Sinai territory of as a point of departure for their war against Israel, and suggested that Israel move them to the Negev until the war ends and then return them to their homes. The King of Jordan announced that this was a red line and that there would be no Palestinian refugees in Jordan or Egypt. Abu Mazen, chairman of the Palestinian Authority, warned against this move, saying that "we will not allow a new Nakba in the 21st century," and called on the Security Council to pass a resolution condemning the Israeli move. For their part, Hamas leaders have called on the residents not to respond to the calls of the IDF and not to head south.
It seems that the call to the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to head south has raised the level of anxiety among the Palestinians. The Israeli determination in this war heightens the emotions among the Palestinians since 1948 reflected in oaths they swore to each other over the years that there would not be a "second Nakba," oaths that were the foundation of the sumud strategy, the steadfast perseverance in their war against Israel. According to this strategy, not abandoning territory is the key to prevent a "second Nakba."
The large movement of residents from the north of the Gaza Strip to the south in the midst of a war full of contradictory and dubious messages among Arab and non-Arab figures is a unifying Palestinian element and a challenging aspect that forces Arab heads of states to side with the Palestinians, emphasize the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and increase the pressure on Israel. This might complicate Israel’s ground maneuver.
It is therefore correct to underscore what was already stated clearly, that there is no intention to reoccupy the Strip, that there will be no refugees, and that everyone will be able to return to their homes.