Every May, memories return across Palestinian towns and refugee camps like old keys preserved inside family drawers. The Nakba, meaning “catastrophe” in Arabic, remains more than a historical term for many Palestinians. It lives through stories passed quietly between generations, carried through photographs, names of villages, and recollections of homes left behind decades ago.

This year, Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank marked the 78th anniversary of the Nakba amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian hardship. Demonstrators gathered in several areas carrying Palestinian flags, portraits of detainees, and banners calling for the release of prisoners held in Israeli detention facilities.

The Nakba commemorates the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war surrounding the creation of the state of Israel. Palestinians continue observing the anniversary annually as both a historical remembrance and a reflection on their present political situation.

In Gaza, commemorations unfolded under the shadow of continuing destruction and displacement linked to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned about worsening conditions for civilians, including shortages of food, medicine, and shelter.

Meanwhile, demonstrations in parts of the West Bank focused heavily on Palestinian prisoners. Families of detainees joined public gatherings and renewed calls for international attention regarding conditions inside Israeli prisons and the status of thousands currently detained.

Israeli authorities have stated that many detentions relate to security concerns and counterterrorism operations. Human rights organizations, however, continue monitoring allegations involving administrative detention practices, prison conditions, and access to legal protections for detainees.

The anniversary also drew international reactions, with several advocacy groups and foreign observers emphasizing the importance of historical memory alongside efforts toward a peaceful political solution. Across the region, the commemorations reflected both grief over the past and uncertainty surrounding the future.

As evening settled across refugee camps and crowded city streets, commemorations gradually quieted. Yet for many Palestinian families, the Nakba remains not only a remembrance of history, but also a continuing lens through which current events are understood and endured.

The visuals accompanying this report were created using AI-generated imagery for illustrative use.

Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Middle East Eye