Derya Gulnaz Ozcan
16 May 2024•Update: 16 May 2024
ATHENS
European politicians and activists organized late Wednesday a march to the US and Israeli embassies in Athens to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the "Nakba" (Great Catastrophe), the forced displacement of Palestinians from their lands.
Palestinians in Greece protested Israel's attacks on Palestine, first marching to the US and Israeli embassies, chanting anti-US slogans upon the call of the MeRA25 Party, civil society organizations and students in the country.
The rally was attended by MeRA25 party leader and former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Clare Daly, as well as politicians and activists from Italy, Ireland, and Germany.
Varoufakis rejected assertions that Israel is acting in self-defense, instead highlighting decades of Palestinian oppression by Israel.
He also criticized Germany's ban on his political activities and entry due to his pro-Palestinian stance, pointing out the implications for "political rights" and solidarity with "Palestinian, Jewish, German, and Italian comrades."
The march ended in front of the Israeli Embassy in Athens, resulting in clashes between police and protesters, who hurled stones at them and nearby shop windows.
Police intervened with tear gas to deter protesters from throwing stones, leading to the arrest of three individuals.
Criticize pro-Israel policies
Speakers at the event condemned Israel's attacks on Palestine and criticized US and EU pro-Israel policies, emphasizing the suffering and difficulties faced by the Palestinian people since the Nakba.
Palestinian Leyla Celed, speaking to Anadolu, recounted her experience during the Nakba in 1948 when she was "two years old," stating that her family "fled to Lebanon on foot."
She emphasized that the Palestinian exile has persisted since then, highlighting her own life as a refugee in various countries, including "Lebanon and Greece."
Celed underscored the statelessness of Palestinians, noting the repeated displacement experienced by Palestinian families.
Mohammad Sayid, president of the Palestinian Community in Greece, described the Nakba as a pivotal event in Palestinian history, passed down through generations.
He emphasized the significance of the Nakba in summarizing Palestinian suffering and also condemned Israel's actions, describing them as "genocidal."
Naim al-Ghadur, president of the Muslim Society in Greece, criticized the unchanged attitudes of Israel and the West towards Palestinians "even 76 years after the Nakba."
He highlighted the fear in the West of potential Israeli returnees and recalled the historical European persecution of Jews, contrasting it with Muslim aid.
Palestinians commemorate May 15 as the Nakba due to Israel declaring its independence on May 14, 1948, and subjecting Palestinians to forced displacement in the occupied Palestinian territories.
*Writing by Gizem Nisa Cebi in Istanbul
