Witness

In 1948, tens of thousands of Palestinians left their homes in the Middle East, never to return. The period after World War Two in the region was tense, at times violent and politically complex.For Israeli Jews it was finally a chance to build their own nation after the genocide of the Holocaust. But for Arab Palestinian Muslims and Christians it was a time of loss. Some sold their land, some were evicted - many felt intimidated by the violence and changing demographics. Rebecca Kesby speaks to Hasan Hammami who was 15-years-old when his family felt ‘pushed out’ of Palestine.The interview was recorded before the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023 and subsequent Israeli military operation.(Photo: Palestinians leaving their homes in 1948. Credit: Getty Images)