The focus for The Big Ride in 2023 is marking 75 years of the ongoing Nakba ( The 'Catastrophe').

Al Nakba refers to the expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians in 1948 when the state of Israel came into being. The Nakba isn’t just a historical event, but has continued ever since 1948, with regular stealing of Palestinian land , housing demolitions and Palestinians being forced to leave their homes. Ethnic Cleansing is a very emotive term, but what else can you call it. 

75 years ago marks the start of the ongoing Israeli colonisation and ethnic cleansing of Palestine. We will be highlighting this historic atrocity as part of the 2023 Big Ride for Palestine, as well as organising local rides leading up to May 15th, the day that marks The Nakba. 

Within The Big Ride for Palestine, we have set aside the 75 days from 1st March to 15th May to highlight 75 years of the Nakba. We are encouraging you to set your own personal challenge, and to individually record your mileage.

Get out on your bikes with your flags and Big Ride tops so people around can see that you are riding for Palestine!

• Cycle 75 miles between 1st March and 15th May .
• Gradually build up your mileage , and see if you can do 75 miles in one week, possibly the last week, Monday 8th May - Sunday 14th May. For the cycling enthusiasts, see how many weeks you can do 75 miles in. 
• Try to get out with your local group at least once a month and use this opportunity to reconnect with Big Riders in your area
• On the final weekend of the challenge, connect with other locally organised Nakba events

Spread the Word!

Tell friends and family why you are doing 75 miles , and use it as an opportunity to raise awareness of the continued injustices and crimes against humanity in Palestine today. Many Palestinian human rights organisations have, for decades, described such crimes against humanity as Apartheid. More recently Israeli human rights organisations like B’Tselem, and international human rights groups like Amnesty International , have carried out intensive research and produced reports that state the the policies, laws and practices of the Israeli government against Palestinians meet the definition of Apartheid. As well as raising awareness by riding, boycott Israeli products such as dates, avocados, and oranges until Israel complies with international law. 

For the challenges facing cyclists in Gaza watch the fantastic ‘Cycling Under Siege in Gaza ’