When Arab Solidarity Crumbles: The Forgotten Palestinian Expulsion from Libya

The 1995 mass expulsion of Palestinians from Libya reveals how geopolitical calculations can instantly transform refuge into exile, even among supposed allies.

The Historical Context of Palestinian Presence in Libya

Palestinians had found sanctuary in Libya for decades, part of the broader diaspora that scattered across the Arab world following the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and subsequent conflicts. Under Muammar Gaddafi’s rule, Libya positioned itself as a champion of Palestinian rights, offering not just rhetorical support but practical assistance—employment, education, and a semblance of normalcy for thousands of Palestinian families. This arrangement served both communities: Palestinians gained stability while Libya burnished its credentials as a leader of Arab nationalism and anti-imperial resistance.

The 1995 Crisis: Politics Over People

The expulsion of over 30,000 Palestinians in 1995 marked a shocking reversal of this decades-long relationship. Gaddafi’s decision came in response to the Oslo Accords, which he viewed as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause by Yasser Arafat and the PLO leadership. The Libyan leader, who had cultivated an image as the Palestinians’ steadfast ally, suddenly transformed into their persecutor. Families who had built lives in Libya for generations were given mere days to leave, their property confiscated, their children pulled from schools mid-semester.

The humanitarian catastrophe that followed was as predictable as it was devastating. Thousands of Palestinians found themselves stranded in makeshift camps along the Egyptian border, exposed to harsh desert conditions with minimal shelter, food, or medical care. International aid organizations scrambled to respond, but the political complexities of the situation—with Egypt reluctant to accept the refugees and other Arab states offering only token assistance—left many Palestinians in limbo for months.

The Deeper Implications: Instrumentalizing Palestinian Suffering

This episode exposes an uncomfortable truth about Middle Eastern politics: Palestinian welfare has often been subordinated to the strategic calculations of Arab leaders who claim to champion their cause. Gaddafi’s actions demonstrated how quickly proclaimed solidarity could evaporate when political interests shifted. The Palestinians, already victims of dispossession, became pawns in a larger game of regional politics, punished not for their own actions but for decisions made by leaders they could not control.

The 1995 expulsion also highlighted the precarious nature of Palestinian existence throughout the Arab world. Without citizenship in their host countries, Palestinians remained perpetual guests, vulnerable to sudden shifts in political wind. This vulnerability persists today, as Palestinian communities from Lebanon to the Gulf states continue to face legal restrictions, limited rights, and the constant threat of expulsion.

A Pattern of Betrayal

Libya’s actions were not unique. Kuwait expelled hundreds of thousands of Palestinians after the Gulf War in retaliation for Arafat’s support of Saddam Hussein. Lebanon maintains discriminatory laws preventing Palestinians from owning property or working in numerous professions. The rhetoric of Arab unity and support for Palestine often masks policies that perpetuate Palestinian statelessness and suffering.

Nearly three decades later, as we witness renewed violence in Gaza and continued occupation in the West Bank, the lesson of Libya’s Palestinian expulsion remains relevant: When will the Palestinian people stop paying the price for the political calculations of others, whether friend or foe?