Typically, Palestinian’s family names give a clue as to their origin. Thus, we find that a clan of Palestinians located in Gaza that are called Al Masri came from Egypt.
Other names to be found in Gaza are:-
Al Hirqwi who came from Iraq
Al Horani from a region in Syria
Asurani from Tsor in Lebanon
Segawi from Sidon in Lebanon
Tarabutzi from Tripoli in Lebanon
Zarkawi from Jordan
So just where is the land of Gaza they say has been
inhabited for generations?
1 comment:
This is misleading. A Jew from Frankfurt might be named Frankfurter after he moved to another town, but the name does not tell you how long ago he made the move.
The Al-Masri family has lived in Palestine for decades, if not centuries.
Arab immigration to British Mandate Palestine from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Iraq was not recorded (unlike Jewish immigration by sea).
When UNRWA was established, the condition for being listed as a 'Palestinian' was having lived in Palestine during the previous year. Probably 70-80% of those enrolled were either immigrants, or the children of immigrants. Once in, they could never get out.
During the recent Syrian civil war, 'Palestinians' who fled to Turkey asked to be recorded as Syrian refugees to improve their chances of finding a new permanent home.
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