Since 1948, the suffering of the Palestinian people with forced displacement has not stopped; rather, the Nakba has become a foundational milestone for a continuous approach of uprooting individuals from their land and depriving them of their right to existence, life, and dignity. Forced displacement was not an incidental event in Palestinian history; instead, it is a systematic policy aimed primarily at emptying the land of its people to replace them with settlement groups, which has formed, and continues to form, one of the aspects of contemporary genocide.
Over the decades, the cycles of displacement have not ceased; rather, they have deepened with multiple forms of siege, killing, arrest, and home demolition. This has culminated in what we witness today in the Gaza Strip: a collective genocide and mass displacement affecting hundreds of thousands of civilians. From this standpoint, it is crucial to view this crime not only from a political perspective but also from a legal and ethical perspective that clarifies the ruling of Islamic law on such crimes and establishes the nation's duty towards them.
Therefore, forced displacement represents a blatant violation of human rights that Islam recognized long before secular laws addressed these issues. Allah, the Almighty, honored human beings and prohibited the assault on their lives, property, and land. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in his Farewell Sermon: "Your blood, your wealth, and your honor are sacred to you, as sacred as this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this city of yours." This is a definitive text prohibiting coercion, aggression, and displacement, because forcibly removing a person from their homeland is a form of injustice that Islam came to combat.
Rather, Allah Almighty described displacement as an unforgivable crime when He said: (They are˺ those who have been expelled from their homes for no reason other than proclaiming: “Our Lord is Allah ) (Al-Hajj) The Quran links displacement with belief and shows that the real criminal is the one who drives people out of their homes because of their religion or affiliation.
The Nakba: The Open Beginning of Pain
The "Nakba" was not only the expulsion of more than 750,000 Palestinians from their villages and cities, but it was also the moment of the birth of a settler colonial project aimed at erasing the Palestinian presence. This period witnessed systematic destruction of more than 500 Palestinian villages, along with a series of massacres intended to instill fear in the hearts of civilians and drive them to flee.
The Palestinian refugees, who were thrown into camps in Gaza, the West Bank, and the diaspora, did not just lose their homes; they were deprived of their identity, their right to return, and even the most basic conditions for a dignified life. Since then, disasters have followed one another for the Palestinian people in various forms and with different names, but their essence has remained the same: the uprooting of the Palestinian person from their land.
Read also: Forced displacement... How does the occupation reshape Palestinian camps in the northern West Bank?
The forced displacement in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
With the occupation of 1967, waves of displacement renewed, resulting in the expulsion of thousands of residents from villages adjacent to the borders. Entire villages were demolished, such as Imwas, Yalu, and Beit Nabala. Since then, the policy of Judaizing Jerusalem and settlement in the West Bank has not stopped, as Palestinians are being suffocated by gates and walls, land confiscation, identity withdrawals, and the imposition of demographic and geographical realities.
In the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods, a legal displacement policy is being exercised, wrapped in decisions from Zionist courts that do not recognize the Palestinian right to ownership. Instead, they legitimize the handing over of homes to settlement associations, disregarding international law and human rights.
Gaza... Between siege and genocide
Gaza, which has become a symbol of resistance and steadfastness, has been living under a suffocating siege for many years, making daily life an act of resistance in itself. However, what happened after October 7, 2023, marked a catastrophic turning point in the course of the Palestinian issue, as Gaza was subjected to a war of complete extermination, utilizing all tools of killing and destruction from air, land, and sea. This was accompanied by a clear Zionist rhetoric calling for the expulsion of Gaza's residents to Sinai, aiming to completely empty the strip of its inhabitants.
More than 80% of the population of Gaza has been internally displaced, some of them displaced more than once. Homes, mosques, hospitals, universities, and all aspects of life have been deliberately targeted, even temporary shelters such as schools and hospitals have not been spared from the shelling, in a scene that reflects the Israeli determination to make life in Gaza impossible.
This war was not merely a reaction as the occupation claims, but rather part of a long-term project to empty the sector of its population and push them towards the Egyptian border. Statements from the leaders of the occupation and some Western officials have revealed agreements or at least preparations for the idea of mass displacement, which confirms that what is happening is not only war crimes but a complete plan for genocide.
Read also: Displacement is central as Israel plans for a million Gazans to relocate internationally
From displacement to extermination
Forced displacement, when practiced systematically and extensively and coupled with the destruction of the essentials of life, turns into a form of genocide, which applies perfectly to the Palestinian situation. According to the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, one of the key elements of this crime is "causing physical or mental harm to members of a national, ethnic, or racial group, and imposing living conditions intended to destroy the group in whole or in part.
What is happening in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Jerusalem, and in the diaspora represents a connected series of crimes targeting the Palestinian people as a national group. The forces of occupation seek to erase them from the map, whether through killing, displacement, starvation, or forced migration.
The duty of the world... and the right of return
In the face of these crimes, the duty of the international community is not limited to condemnation or concern; rather, it must take practical steps to hold the leaders of the occupation accountable and to stop the ongoing genocide. However, experience has taught us that relying solely on the world is a losing gamble, and that the continuation of resistance in all its forms—legal, field-based, and cultural—is the true guarantee for keeping the cause alive.
The right of return, which the occupation has tried to obliterate for more than seven decades, has returned powerfully to the forefront today. Every tent to which a family from Gaza has been displaced, and every child born in a cold tent or a damaged school, reaffirms this right anew. The return is not only to the destroyed homes but also to a dignified life, human dignity, and national sovereignty.
Forced displacement is not just a detail in the Palestinian narrative; it is the core of the tragedy and the essence of the conflict. From the Nakba to the Naksa, from the siege of Gaza to the war of extermination, the Palestinian has remained steadfast in his right to land and life. This battle is not only a struggle for existence but also a battle for global human conscience. Either the truth prevails, or the law of the jungle will triumph.
One of the fundamental principles in Sharia is that usurped land cannot be relinquished, and that negligence regarding the land is a betrayal of trust. God Almighty said: (And do not be inclined to the wrongdoers or you will be touched by the Fire.) (Hud:113)
Islamic scholars have unanimously agreed that anyone whose land has been occupied must strive to liberate it and return to it if able. Therefore, the right of return for Palestinians is not merely a dream, but a religious duty that must be upheld and not compromised, regardless of how long the time may be or how severe the oppression.
Read also: Non-Negotiable Defiance: Gaza’s Resistance Through a Legal Lens
