For twelve years, an invisible thread has bound the hearts of the free people to Palestine— a thread woven by the will of activists who never tired of raising the banner of truth and never ceased to echo the anthem of return. Amid the world’s clamor, and in an era when the Palestinian cause is meant to be reduced or forgotten, the Global Campaign to Return to Palestine chose to be a radiant voice carrying memory from one generation to another, keeping Palestine alive in the collective conscience regardless of the passage of time. GCRP was never merely an organization; it became a state of awareness and a long journey of popular, transcontinental action, reminding the world that justice does not die and that the road to return is paved by those who believe in it.

From Idea to Institution: Initiative That Expanded to the World

The idea of the campaign emerged on May 15, 2013, when activists from different parts of the world gathered to commemorate the Nakba in a renewed way that would restore the spirit of the Palestinians’ right to their land. Months later, on November 27–29—on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People—the campaign took its official form at its first conference in Beirut under the slogan “Solidarity is a Responsibility.”

From the very first moment, the campaign declared a clear objective: to form a global framework that restores the Palestinian cause to its rightful place as a comprehensive humanitarian and moral issue. It adopted the firm slogan, “Return to the Land and the Cause,” and outlined for itself a set of strategic goals based on:

Presenting the Palestinian cause in its true essence as a cause of justice and inalienable legitimate rights, beyond fragmentation or bargaining, and as a meeting ground for all free and honorable people of the world, regardless of their differences on other issues.

Activating the role of civil-society institutions and establishing an organized base for cooperation that contributes to developing work in the service of Palestine.

Sustaining the presence of the “Question of Palestine” within public spheres and among international rights bodies and frameworks.

Building local, regional, and global public opinion grounded in the justice of the Palestinian cause and supportive of the Palestinians in their struggle for their legitimate rights.

Supporting the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and their right—guaranteed by all laws and international conventions—to defend themselves and resist occupation in pursuit of a free and dignified life.

Since its launch, the campaign has turned Palestinian commemorations into global stations of solidarity. On Land Day, March 30, it launched field and symbolic initiatives, most notably the “Garden of the Martyrs of Return” in southern Lebanon in 2018, where 248 trees were planted in memory of the martyrs.

As for Return Day on May 15, it became the central annual occasion for the campaign after adopting a concept that replaces the term “Nakba” with one that carries hope rather than defeat. On this day, sit-ins are organized in front of embassies, international seminars are held, and solidarity messages are broadcast by political, cultural, and media figures from around the world.

During the Week of the Intifada—September 22 to 28 each year—the campaign revives the memory of the Palestinian struggle through public and cultural activities, affirming that the spirit of popular resistance remains alive despite all circumstances.

The campaign also marks annually the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on November 29 through large-scale awareness campaigns across different countries.

Expanding Maps… An Echo Across Continents

It did not take long for the campaign to transform into a global bridge linking solidarity movements in more than eighty countries. From the World Social Forum in Tunisia to conferences in Malaysia, Brazil, and Chile, it became evident that Palestine is present in all the languages of the world.

Key milestones were among the most prominent international conferences organized by GCRP:

The First International Forum of Solidarity with the Palestinian People – Beirut 2013

The Second International Forum – Beirut 2014, under the slogan “Solidarity is an Honor and a Commitment”

The Latin American Conference in Solidarity with Palestine – Venezuela 2015

The Global Scholars’ Forum for Palestine 2015, from which emerged the Global Scholars’ Forum for Palestine

The Third International Forum of Solidarity with the Palestine – Beirut 2015

The Fourth International Forum of Solidarity with Palestine – Beirut 2018

The Fifth International Forum of Solidarity with Palestine – South Africa 2023, in cooperation with the family of late leader Nelson Mandela

The annual “Call of Al-Aqsa” Conference – Karbala, which has become one of the largest platforms of religious and popular solidarity worldwide, uniting the sanctity and symbolism of Karbala with the holiness and stature of Al-Quds

Each conference opened a new window, and every station became a building block in the construction of a global network defending Palestine.

An Enduring Memory… An Unextinguished Path

Twelve years have been enough for the Global Campaign to Return to Palestine to prove that popular action, when rooted in a sincere humanitarian vision, is capable of moving the world.

From the streets of capitals to university campuses, from media platforms to grassroots initiatives, the campaign has been one voice among thousands insisting that Palestinian rights cannot be erased, and that return is not a slogan but a historical promise preserved in the conscience of publics.

Today, the campaign stands as a bridge between hope and action, between past and future, between an unforgotten memory and a horizon believed in by those who hold that return is a right that does not expire with time. These are twelve years of movement—yet they are also the beginning of a longer journey… a journey toward a homeland that has never left the hearts of its people or its supporters.