Exploring the Impact of Nakba on Palestinian Society, Culture, and Identity

Authors

  • Maryam Hammed University of Houston

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/pur.2025.142

Abstract

This study examines the enduring impact of the 1948 Nakbah on Palestinian society, culture, and identity. The study puts in perspective a historical analysis, real testimonies from Palestinian society, and literature. The study also explores the birth of the Zionist movement and what led to initial displacement, while also exploring refugee experiences and what resulted in the diaspora and cultural expression.  Consequences, including loss of life and destruction of villages, are also highlighted. This puts into perspective the forced exile and displacement from villages. Research further addresses the importance of music, art, and culture amidst the ongoing feud. By documenting both historical context and lived experiences, the paper underscores the Nakbah’s continued relevance to contemporary Palestinian identity and the enduring hope for return.

Author Biography

Maryam Hammed, University of Houston

Maryam Hammed is a graduate from the University of Houston with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders. She plans to pursue a master’s in Speech-Language Pathology. Her interests include clinical research and creative writing.

References

Finkelstein, Norman. 1992. “Rejoinder to Benny Morris.” Journal of Palestine Studies 21 (2): 61–71. https://doi.org/10.2307/2537219.

Khalidi, Walid. 1988. “Plan Dalet: Master Plan for the Conquest of Palestine.” Journal of Palestine Studies 18 (1): 4–19. https://doi.org/10.2307/2537591.

Masalha, Nur. 2012. The Palestine Nakba: Decolonizing History, Narrating the Subaltern, Reclaiming Memory. London: Zed Books.

Pappé, Ilan. 2006. The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. http://www.schou.de/terrorwar/Ethnic-Cleansing-Palestine.pdf.

Sayigh, Rosemary. 2007. “Women’s Nakba Stories: Between Being and Knowing.” In Nakba: Palestine, 1948, and the Claims of Memory, edited by Ahmad H. Sa’di and Lila Abu-Lughod, 135–160. New York: Columbia University Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/sadi13578.12.

Shlaim, Avi. 2004. “The War of the Israeli Historians.” University of Oxford. https://users.ox.ac.uk/~ssfc0005/TheWaroftheIsraeliHistorians.html.

Slyomovics, Susan. 2007. “The Rape of Qula, a Destroyed Palestinian Village.” In Nakba: Palestine, 1948, and the Claims of Memory, edited by Ahmad H. Sa’di and Lila Abu-Lughod, 27–52. New York: Columbia University Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7312/sadi13578.8.

Takriti, Abdel Razzaq. 2020. “The Nakba Generation and the Makings of Palestinian Revolution — Hampton Institute.” Hampton Institute, January 21, 2020. https://www.hamptonthink.org/read/the-nakba-generation-and-the-makings-of-palestinian-revolution.

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Published

2025-11-03

How to Cite

Hammed, M. (2025). Exploring the Impact of Nakba on Palestinian Society, Culture, and Identity . Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.5195/pur.2025.142

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review

Section

Research

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Copyright (c) 2025 Mariam Hammed

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