London: Nakba 78 - Annual March for Palestine

Christians For Palestine will be joining groups of all faiths and beliefs on this day

Friday, 15 May 2026, marks the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, ( catastrophe) which refers to the start of the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by Zionist militias to make way for the creation of Israel in 1948. Peaceful Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups will be marching together with secular organisations in cities around the world for the annual commemoration of this day.

Over 700,000 people were displaced by the invasion in 1948. Another 300,000 were displaced in 1967. As of April this year at least 75,498 people (73,459 Palestinians and 2039 Israelis) have been killed in the war on Gaza. 70% were women and children. Thousands more bodies are missing under the rubble. Hundreds of aid workers and journalists have also been killed - (more than were killed in both world wars, Vietnam, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan combined.)

Today more than 5.9 million Palestinians are registered as refugees, many residing in camps across Jordan, Lebanon, the Occupied West Bank and Gaza. The indigenous Christian population of the Holy Land has declined dramatically.

The Palestinian Christian population of Bethlehem, which dates back to the birth of Jesus, (they even pray in the language Jesus used) has dropped from over 80 per cent in 1948 to less than 12 percent this year - because of harsh restrictions placed on Palestinians by Israel, the lack of pilgrims in recent years and increasing attacks by illegal Israeli settlers.

In London, campaigners will be gathering at 12 noon on Saturday 16 May, to commemorate the Nakba for a march beginning in Exhibition Road, London SW7 2DB. The demonstration will end in Pall Mall.

Christians for Palestine will be meeting earlier for an ecumenical prayer service. Details to follow.

(At the present time the far right Tommy Robinson march from Euston to Whitehall is also scheduled to take place on this day. To prevent disorder, police have approved the different routes with the starting points over 5km apart.)