The family was forced to flee Safed in May, 1948, following Operation Yiftah, a plan by Jewish paramilitaries to take over Safed as part of the broader conflict that resulted not only in the establishment of the State of Israel, but also in the flight and exile of many of thousands of Arabs from Safed and neighboring villages. Palestinian activist Yousef Munayyer said: @YousefMunayyer: On the Nakba in 1948, Ben Gurion said "The old will die and the young will forget" yet #WeWillReturn48 trends worldwide in 2012