Between 750,000 and one million Palestinians were expelled and made refugees during Israel’s creation, between 1947 and 1949.
- At least two dozen massacres of Palestinian civilians were carried out by Zionist and Israeli occupation forces; they played a crucial role in spurring the mass flight of Palestinians from their homes.
- More than 400 Palestinian towns and villages were systematically destroyed by Israeli forces or repopulated with Jews between 1948 and 1950. Most Palestinian population centers, including homes, businesses, houses of worship, and vibrant urban centers were demolished to prevent the return of their Palestinian owners who are now refugees outside of Israel’s pre-1967 borders or internally displaced.
