In a first-of-its-kind event in the UK, drawing attention to the vital importance of documenting historical narratives and honoring those who lived through them, the Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) held a prestigious ceremony on Monday evening, May 18, in West London.
The ceremony was organized to honor a number of Nakba witnesses who survived the 1948 massacres committed by occupation gangs. The event was held under the auspices of MP Jeremy Corbyn, the former leader of the Labour Party and the parliamentary leader of “Your Party”.
Massive Political and Solidarity Turnout
The event witnessed an outstanding turnout of political figures and activists. Leading the attendees were Independent MPs Ayoub Khan and Iqbal Mohamed, alongside several Green Party representatives from the London and Birmingham councils.
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The event also featured representatives from various Palestine solidarity organizations in the UK, as well as prominent influencers such as Nicole Jeans, Tadhg (the Irish activist), and Ahmed, the creator of the “Propaganda” account. Additionally, Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos attended the event, alongside the families of the Nakba witnesses and a large gathering of British Palestinians and their supporters.
The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) held a prestigious ceremony on Monday evening, May 18, in West London
The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) held a prestigious ceremony on Monday evening, May 18, in West London
The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) held a prestigious ceremony on Monday evening, May 18, in West London
The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) held a prestigious ceremony on Monday evening, May 18, in West London
The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) held a prestigious ceremony on Monday evening, May 18, in West London
The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) held a prestigious ceremony on Monday evening, May 18, in West London
The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) held a prestigious ceremony on Monday evening, May 18, in West London
Speeches by the Palestinian Forum and Reviving Memory
During the official speeches, Adnan Hmidan, Chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, noted: “This honoring is the bare minimum we can offer to these individuals. What matters most is that we have heard their stories and memories.”
The ceremony also featured a deeply moving tribute that drew roaring applause from the audience for Ben Jamal, the Chief Executive of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), who has decided to step down from his position to care for his ailing wife.
List of Honored Figures
The list of honored Nakba witnesses and activists included prominent national and academic figures:
- Dr. Ghada Karmi
- Dr. Mahmoud Al-Haj Ali
- Khalil Al-Nawrasi
- Huda Al-Turk
- Fawaz Sadiq Al-Muzaini
- Waleed Musa Al-Samhan
- Mahmoud Al-Agha
- Suad Al-Khateeb
Additionally, Attallah Said and Michel Abdul-Masih were honored in absentia due to illness.
Voices of Return and Echoes of the Palestinian Narrative
The ceremony revived nostalgic melodies and songs of return from traditional Palestinian, performed by vocalists Useid Maher and Islam Shaban, accompanied by musician Hussein Atwi.
In a cultural and media tribute, the well-known British actress Sarah Agha praised the concept of the honoring ceremony and the importance of listening to the accounts of Nakba witnesses. She expressed how deeply moved she was by the film produced by the Palestinian Forum, which depicted the history of the Nakba using archival footage.
Embodying Identity and Ethnocide: Destroyed Villages Present in the Hall
The hall was filled with poignant scenes blending hope and resilience, with a powerful presence of Palestinian identity. This began with thyme (za’atar) and olive oil served at the entrance, extending to the Palestinian Keffiyeh and red ribbons worn in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Men wore the traditional Qunbaz, while women donned Palestinian Thobes representing various cities.
Palestinian geography was also woven into the details of the event. In an alternative form of documentation, the guest tables bore the names of Palestinian towns and villages that were completely destroyed in 1948, such as: Al-Qastal, Al-Tantura, Al-Manshiyya, Ayn Ghazal, and Lubya.
View the full photo gallery [here]
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