Nakba is the Arabic word for “catastrophe” and refers to the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. It is usually used to describe the loss of homes, land, and communities that accompanied the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.

Quick Scoop

The Nakba is a central term in Palestinian history and memory. In many accounts, it refers to the expulsion or flight of roughly 750,000 Palestinians and the destruction or depopulation of many towns and villages in 1948.

Why it matters

  • It marks a turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
  • It is commemorated by Palestinians and discussed internationally as part of the history of displacement.
  • Different groups describe and interpret the events differently, so the term can carry strong political meaning.

In one line

If you’re asking “what is Nakba,” the short answer is: the term Palestinians use for the 1948 catastrophe of displacement and dispossession.

If you want, I can also give you a very short 2-sentence version or a neutral historical timeline.