Today, the UN is organizing special events at its headquarters in New York to mark the 75th anniversary of the Nakba.

This significant initiative is being undertaken by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, in collaboration with the Division for Palestinian Rights in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

The decision to hold these commemorative events at the UN headquarters follows the passage of a pro-Palestinian resolution by the UN General Assembly.

The resolution received 90 votes in favor, with 30 against, and 47 countries abstaining from voting on the initiative.

As a result, the Division for Palestinian Rights of the Secretariat is requested to dedicate its activities in 2023 to the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Nakba.

The UN intends to organize two major events in collaboration with the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN.

A special high-level meeting will take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (New York time) in Conference Room 4 at the UN Headquarters. Chaired by Ambassador Cheikh Niang, Chair of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, the meeting will feature a speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Additionally, statements will be delivered by UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and Commissioner-General of the UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini, along with representatives of regional groups and civil society.

Furthermore, a special commemorative event and concert will be held in the UN General Assembly Hall from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (New York time).

The aim of the event is to provide a comprehensive experience of the Palestinian Nakba through the presentation of photos, videos, testimonies, and two concerts. The concerts will be performed by Palestinian singer Sana Mousa and Nasim al-Atrash, a Grammy-nominated cellist and composer, in the presence of the New York Arab Orchestra. (ILKHA)