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Palestinians in Europe unify around messages of hope

Thousands convene in Netherlands for annual Palestinians in Europe conference, under slogans of hope and determination.

Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
A Palestinian flag flies in the middle of Rotterdam city centre. Palestine, as a state, was removed from all atlases from the early-1950s onwards, after the creation of Israel in 1948 on historic Palestine land. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]

By Rawan Damen and Mahmod Abuabdou

Published On 18 Apr 201718 Apr 2017

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Rotterdam, the Netherlands – The Palestinians in Europe conference convened this week for their 15th annual gathering in the Netherlands‘ second largest city, Rotterdam. The event brought together thousands of Palestinians under the slogan “100 years on, a victorious nation and unbreakable determination”.

Saturday’s conference coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, in which the British government pledged its support for a Jewish national home in Palestine, at the expense of the Palestinian indigenous population. 

Many key issues related to the Palestinian cause were discussed in the conference, such as prisoners, the Israeli siege of Gaza, illegal settlements in Palestinian territories and the conditions of Palestinian refugees in the camps and across the diaspora. 

The conference was attended by participants from all over the European continent, representatives of Palestinian associations, institutions and organisations both from within Europe and beyond.

For the first time, the event hosted dual conferences in English and Arabic, as well as one dedicated to Palestinian children. 

The sessions highlighted the importance of the Balfour Declaration Apology campaign launched in the UK in February 2017 and discussed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS).

Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
Registration opened on the morning of April 15. The conference was free and open to the public. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
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Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
Whole families and generations arrived from Italy, Spain, France, Denmark, Sweden and other European countries to attend the conference. About 1,000 came from Germany alone, mostly in buses and cars. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
Approximately 3,000 attended the opening ceremony. Palestinian politicians, community leaders and public figures participated in the event. They hailed from both the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as from the diaspora. European MPs, activists, journalists and representatives of various NGOs took part in this year’s event. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
Part of the exhibition, parallel to the conference, was dedicated to Palestinian prisoners, as prisoners announce a mass hunger strike on April 17, to coincide with Palestinian Prisoners Day. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
Khalid Turaani, a Palestinian American activist, speaks about the importance of the role of Palestinians in the diaspora during a panel discussion. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
Several performances took place on the main stage, including folklore and theatre. Palestinians look to their national flag as a symbol of freedom and liberty. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
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Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
Majed al-Zeer, chairman of the conference, and one of the main cofounders of the event. He is a Palestinian based in Berlin. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
Many pro-Palestinian Dutch politicians and activists participated in the conference and exhibition. A pro-Zionist campaign was launched in response to the conference. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
A Palestinian child, born in Europe and a third-generation Palestinian refugee, is happy to be participating. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
Several international, Dutch, Arab and Palestinian media outlets attended and covered the conference. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
Palestinian doctors in Europe gathered for a special seminar to discuss their priorities during the conference. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
Palestinian engineers in Europe conducted a seminar to discuss their priorities. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
The conference in Europe is an annual social event for Palestinians. Many use it as an opportunity to network, make connections, and rejoin with family members from across Europe. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]
Palestinians in Europe/ Please Do Not Use
Organisers see the conference as a major platform in Europe to let new Palestinian generations become familiar with their identity and work towards their right to return to their homeland, Palestine. [Mahmod Abuabdou/Al Jazeera]

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