Our Story

Al Awda, The Palestine Right of Return Movement

Palestinians forced to leave their land upon the formation of Israel in 1948 are one of the largest refugee populations in the world. Currently, refugees make up about 70% of the Palestinian population, and there are about 7.2 million Palestinian refugees worldwide. And that number is unlikely to decrease any time soon. In fact, no Palestinian refugee has ever lost his or her refugee status because Palestinians are denied the right to return to their homes. The Palestinian Right of Return Movement—Al Awda—is focused on attaining and reinstating this right.

We are a non-profit organization comprised of Palestinians, Palestinian supporters, human rights activists, and students who are committed to helping Palestinian refugees return to their homes. Anyone can join Al Awda from any political, ethnic, religious, and/or organizational background. Our goal is to unite people and share the Palestinian story—Our Story—so that future generations of Palestinians will no longer suffer displacement, abuse, and loss.

Al Awda is made up of several chapters based in cities throughout the United States, working separately and together to bring attention to and influence change regarding the plight of Palestinian refugees. For example, Al Awda groups have maintained a humanitarian aid program for Palestinian refugees and launched a Palestine Children’s Rights Campaign to advocate for the release of all Palestinian children from Israeli prisons. Al Awda has also organized many speaking tours, lectures, and discussions with renowned experts on the Palestine-Israeli conflict, including Dr. Salman Abu Sitta, Tariq Ali, artist Samia Halabi, and authors Susan Abulhawa, Ibtisam Barakat, and Mark Gonzales.

The Palestine Right of Return Movement is a personal endeavor for every individual involved, as well as a global endeavor inherently significant to the larger human quest for respect and recognition of every person’s basic rights. Al Awda is proud to organize and educate—often in the face of challenge and opposition—so that people everywhere support the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and land of origin and the restitution of all confiscated and destroyed property in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, international law, and United Nations Resolutions upholding such rights.

We hope you’ll join us in the journey to restore the rights of native Palestinians and, ultimately, the Palestinian refugee’s journey home. For more information on Al Awda, The Palestine Right of Return Movement, and upcoming events, please check our website regularly or contact us directly.