Middle Eastern conflicts are a topic that people hold strong opinions on, regardless of their lack of personal experience or knowledge on the subject. One popular question being asked by “internet experts” is why Arab states or other countries don’t open their borders to allow the population of the Gaza Strip to leave. This suggestion, however, lacks any connection to reality and is simply wishful thinking.
The reality is that most Palestinians in the Gaza Strip feel strongly about remaining in their homeland, despite the difficulties and horrors they face. Neighboring states also feel that they cannot afford to take in two million more refugees. To outsiders, it may seem illogical that people in extreme danger choose to stay and suffer, while questioning why Arab states, who claim to support their brethren, do not offer them refuge. However, both sides’ positions stem from collective memories and fears.
The displacement of Palestinians over the past 75 years has resulted in multiple population shifts caused by conflicts. The first major displacement in 1948, known as the Nakba or “catastrophe,” saw nearly a million Palestinians expelled from their homes. Arab states attempted to militarily destroy Israel but failed. They took in their uprooted kinsmen, but a political solution that would allow them to return never materialized. Subsequent wars and conflicts created even more refugees, all hoping to one day return home.
The integration of Palestinians in their refugee lands has proven challenging, as they still see their hosts as “foreigners” even after generations. This was evident during the 1970-1971 internecine fighting in Jordan between Jordanian forces and Palestinian fighters, which resulted in thousands of deaths. The fear of the PLO growing too strong in Jordan led to their relocation to Lebanon, where they continued to engage in attacks against Israel, precipitating a bloody civil war.
Given their past experiences, it is understandable why Arab states are reluctant to take in more refugees. The non-Arab world also shows no eagerness to provide refuge to these survivors of bombing, famine, and disease. Despite promises and peace agreements, Israel has made the return and resettlement of refugees nearly impossible, leaving countless Palestinians without a place to call home. The fear among Gazans is that an Israeli offensive could forcibly push them into Egypt, despite their wishes to stay.
In conclusion, the people of the Gaza Strip fear becoming pawns in a political game and are determined to resist any attempts to displace them once again. Their desire to hold onto the little they have, even in the harshest conditions, stems from a lack of results when it comes to promises of return and the feeling that the world has forgotten them.