PA ambassador in Belarus: Palestinians have been under occupation ‘for the last 71 years,” i.e., since Israel’s establishment in 1948

Headline: "Our embassy in Belarus commemorates the 71st anniversary of the Nakba"

"The Embassy of the State of Palestine in Belarus commemorated the 71st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (i.e., “the catastrophe,” the Palestinian term for the establishment of the State of Israel)...
The event was opened by Ambassador of the State of Palestine in Belarus Khaled Erekat...
The ambassador said: ‘The Palestinians are still dreaming of returning to their lands in accordance with [UN] Security Council Resolution 194 (see note below –Ed.). This painful anniversary is an opportunity to remind the entire world that there is a people that is still under occupation [and that has been] for the last 71 years.’"

UN Resolution 194 (Chapter 11, Dec. 11, 1948) states that "refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return." Palestinian leaders argue this means that all Arabs who left Israel during the war (hundreds of thousands) and their descendants (a few million) have a "right of return" to Israel. Israel argues that the resolution only calls for a limited return and only under certain conditions, especially focusing on the words "wishing to return... and live at peace with their neighbors."