The Nakba: A Short History of Palestine's Struggle

Currently, about 6.5 million Palestinians hold on to the dream of one day returning to their homeland. Scattered across the globe, these displaced individuals remain unable to go back to their homes. Some live thousands of miles away in foreign countries, while others are merely a short distance from the land they were forced to leave, yet still barred from returning. Each day, Palestinians endure life under an apartheid regime, facing systematic oppression, human rights violations, and ongoing violence at the hands of the Israeli occupation.


At Bokitta, we firmly stand with a free Palestine and denounce the apartheid actions of the Israeli regime. We aim to use our platform to shed light on the ongoing realities in Palestine and share the truth. As a nation that has also experienced displacement during Partition, Pakistan stands in strong solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice.

In line with our commitment to this cause, we’ve created the Palestine Shawl, inspired by the iconic Palestinian Kufiyah (keffiyeh). The black-and-white checkered pattern is enhanced with vibrant red details, inspired by Palestinian ceramic art, and complemented by red roses—symbols of love, beauty, and courage. This piece embodies both heritage and resilience, representing solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

How Did We Get Here?

The roots of the Palestinian struggle date back to the late 19th century with the rise of the Zionist movement, which aimed to establish a Jewish homeland. One of the movement's key figures, Theodor Herzl, garnered support from influential political leaders such as Britain’s Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour. This led to the infamous Balfour Declaration, in which Britain officially endorsed the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine.

Following the declaration, waves of European Jews began settling in Palestine, gradually displacing the indigenous Palestinian population, often with the backing of British authorities. This gave rise to growing tensions, which eventually led to armed conflicts between Zionist militias and Palestinians.


By the late 1930s, as the Zionists pushed forward with their plans for a Jewish state, Palestinians found themselves unable to defend their land due to the power imbalance. This culminated in 1947 when the British government handed the matter over to the United Nations. The UN proposed a partition plan, allocating 55% of historic Palestine to the new Jewish state, despite Jews making up only a third of the population.

The Aftermath of 1948

On May 14, 1948, the British mandate over Palestine ended, and David Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of Israel. In one night, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were turned into refugees in their own land, now governed by foreign powers. By the end of 1949, over 700,000 Palestinians had been forcibly displaced, with over 13,000 killed. Many fled to neighboring countries like Jordan and Lebanon, while others became internally displaced within the new Israeli state.

For Palestinians, the Nakba—or "catastrophe" in Arabic—is not just a historical event but an ongoing reality. Over the last 70 years, Israel has continued its campaign of aggression, targeting civilian homes, hospitals, and schools. This relentless violence is aimed at erasing the Palestinian people from their land.