The Nakba, an Arabic term meaning "catastrophe," refers to the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinian Arabs that occurred during and after the 1948 Palestine War, which followed the declaration of the State of Israel. It marks the expulsion or flight of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes and the destruction of many Palestinian villages and communities.

The Nakba resulted in the creation of a large refugee population, with Palestinians forced to flee to neighboring Arab countries or become internally displaced within what became Israel. The exact number of Palestinian refugees varies, but estimates suggest that between 700,000 to 800,000 Palestinians were displaced during the Nakba.

For Palestinians, the Nakba represents a profound historical trauma and loss, as well as the ongoing struggle for recognition, justice, and the right of return to their homeland. The commemoration of the Nakba remains a significant aspect of Palestinian identity and collective memory.