mezan/ 15 May 2024

Gaza - To mark Nakba Day, Al Mezan has compiled a touching collection of testimonies from survivors of the 1948 Nakba and who continue to face the ongoing Nakba in Gaza. Among these testimonies is that of Jaber Ahmad Mohammad Shaban, 85, born in 1938 in the village of Simsim, located about 14 kilometers northeast of what is now known as ‘the Gaza Strip.’ His resilience is a testament to the unwavering spirit of the Palestinian people. Here is his powerful testimony:

"I lived with my father, mother and four siblings in our house in Simsim. My father worked in agriculture, and he owned around 400 dunams of land. The residents of Simsim were primarily engaged in agricultural activities and livestock farming. Our life used to be peaceful and tranquil, and the produce of our land was our source of sustenance and livelihood. In 1947, Jewish groups began migrating to Palestine with the aim of displacing Palestinians and seizing their lands.

On 13 May 1948, Israeli troops launched systematic attacks against the residents of Palestinian villages and cities with the purpose of emptying and seizing them. The inhabitants of the targeted villages and cities began to flee to neighboring villages and cities, fearing for their lives.

On 14 May 1948, Simsim village faced a fierce attack by Israeli troops. As a result, my father removed the family to the Seifa area, north of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. About three months later, we and many villagers came back to the village to protect our lands and properties.

A short period after we had returned and settled back into the village, we were subjected to a major attack by Israeli forces using airplanes, tanks and ground troops. I recall that dark day vividly. The attack occurred around 2:00 in the morning. As we left, the warplanes were targeting any individual or group leaving the village. To shield us from the planes, my father covered us with soil. When the planes had disappeared from the Palestinian sky, my father relocated us to Al-Nazla town, located west of Jabaliya in northern Gaza.

At that time, the villagers left Simsim, abandoning their properties, belongings and lands. We struggled to fulfill even the most essential needs of our family. My father could no longer afford to buy food, despite previously owning multiple agricultural lands, wells and livestock.

Over time, contagious diseases began to spread among the refugees, and our living conditions became extremely poor. With the increasing hardship, many residents of villages and cities attempted to return to their residences. However, the brutality and cruelty of the Israeli forces prevented them from reclaiming their homes.

In 1949 the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees was established, initiating the provision of humanitarian aid to Palestinians uprooted from their homes. UNRWA started setting up refugee camps  and delivering healthcare and food to the affected population.

UNRWA initiated the construction of refugee camps to accommodate the refugees in 1951. By early 1952, with the support of UNRWA, my father had secured a home for us east of Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza. Over time, refugees began to adapt to life in Gaza. Children enrolled in schools and men sought employment opportunities to provide sustenance for their families.

As time went on and I grew older, I got married and worked at UNRWA. My hope of returning to my homeland remains strong. Over the years, my family expanded to include eight daughters and three sons. Seeing my children start their own families, I still hold on to the dream of returning to my village and to the land of my father and ancestors.

Since 1948, our lives have been marked by adversity. Initially displaced to Gaza, we have since witnessed a series of attacks and wars initiated by Israeli forces in the city. Despite our resettlement in Gaza, we have not escaped Israeli oppression and brutal attacks.  

In 2018, the Higher National Commission of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege announced the organization of peaceful protests near the eastern fence of the Gaza Strip. The aim of these protests was to demand the right of return according to United Nations Resolution 194, which addresses the return of Palestinian refugees to the lands they were displaced from in 1948. When these activities started, I participated in the hope of returning to my village with my siblings, children and grandchildren. However, this hope was mixed with sadness due to the brutality and violence of the Israeli occupation forces towards participants of peaceful protests. During the Great March of Return, hundreds of Palestinians were killed, and thousands were wounded. Today, at the age of 85, I still hold on to the hope of returning to my village, my home and my land."