Formation of the PLO and the Fatah Movement

Following the catastrophe of 1948, known as the Nakba, the Palestinian people were scattered across various Arab states, the newly established State of Israel, and the territories occupied by Jordan and Egypt. This dispersal left them without a unified political entity or clear leadership to represent their aspirations and advocate for their right of return. The existing Palestinian political structures were fragmented or dissolved, creating a vacuum that needed to be filled.

Arab states initially took on the role of hosting and supporting Palestinian refugees, but they also sought to control the Palestinian national movement. This led to a growing desire among Palestinians for independent representation, free from the agendas of host countries. They yearned for an organization that would solely prioritize their cause and fight for their liberation.