It is on records that Palestinians have been living in refugee camps for over seven decades—since 1948—due to a combination of war, displacement, lack of resolution, and denial of return. Here's a clear explanation of why this prolonged displacement continues:
The
Nakba of 1948
The tragic story started in 1948, during the first
Arab-Israeli war following the creation of Israel, around 750,000 Palestinians
were expelled or fled from their homes. More than 400 Palestinian villages were
destroyed. This mass displacement is known as the Nakba (Arabic for
"catastrophe").
Denial
of Right of Return
The UN General Assembly Resolution 194 of 1948 called for
Palestinian refugees to be allowed to return to their homes or receive
compensation. Israel has consistently refused to allow them to return, fearing
it would threaten the Jewish majority and character of the state.
No Political
Solution
Multiple peace talks and UN resolutions have failed to
resolve the refugee issue. The right of return remains a core demand of
Palestinians and a red line for Israel, making it a major unresolved issue in
all negotiations.
Generational
Refugees
Refugee status is inherited under the mandate of UNRWA
(United Nations Relief and Works Agency). Today, there are nearly 6 million
registered Palestinian refugees, many of whom were born in camps and have never
seen Palestine. They live in camps in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and
Jordan.
Policies
of Host Countries
In countries like Lebanon and Syria, Palestinians are often
denied citizenship and basic rights (work, property ownership). These
restrictions force many to remain in refugee camps, even as they become
semi-permanent urban areas.
Gaza
and West Bank Camps
Even within Palestine (Gaza and West Bank), there are camps,
because the refugees cannot return to their original homes in what is now
Israel. These camps often suffer from poverty, overcrowding, and lack of
infrastructure.
Ongoing
Conflicts
Wars and Israeli occupation (1967 and beyond) have worsened
the situation, adding more waves of displacement. Blockades, settlements, and
military operations have made return or resettlement even more difficult.
Moral
of story
Palestinians live in refugee camps for decades not because
they want to, but because: 1) they were expelled in 1948, 2) denied the right
to return, 3) trapped in legal limbo without full rights in host countries, and
4) and failed international diplomacy to resolve their plight. Until there's a
just political solution addressing their rights—including the right of return
or fair compensation—the refugee situation is unlikely to be resolved.
