SWC: This November 29th Is The UN’s Nakba

November 29, 2023

The Simon Wiesenthal Center condemned today’s statements by Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General and Philippe Lazzarini, United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East as they commemorated the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. 

“This International Day of Solidarity comes during one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Palestinian people,” read the message from Guterres. “I am horrified by the death and destruction that have engulfed the region, which is overwhelmed with pain, anguish and heartache,” Guterres continued.

“The plight of Palestine refugees remains the world’s longest unresolved refugee crisis,” said Lazzarini, adding, “The appalling human tragedy we are witnessing in Gaza is reminiscent of the collective trauma experienced by Palestinians in 1948.”

“SWC also commemorates November 29th as the anniversary of the UN decision to recognize a Jewish State. We further commemorate this November 29th to condemn the harnessing and use of UNRWA facilities by Hamas to launch rockets against Israeli civilians. We condemn their educational system, which till this day, has not shown a map of the state of Israel or even listed the historic Jewish names of cities within Israel’s recognized borders. 

“Further we condemn the failure of the UN Human Rights Council, UNICEF and Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, for their failure to do anything substantive to help over 2,000 innocent Israeli hostages – among them infants, children, mothers and the elderly. This November 29th is truly the UN’s Nakba,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, SWC Associate Dean and Global Social Action Director.

For further information, please email Michele Alkin, Director of Global Communications at malkin@wiesenthal.com or Shawn Rodgers at srodgers@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS, and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).