In Martyrs' Square, Beirut, twenty-one Lebanese nationalists were executed by Djemal Pasha, a high-ranking officer in the Ottoman Empire, in a significant move during World War I. The executed individuals were prominent figures in the Lebanese nationalist movement, which sought to achieve political autonomy and foster a sense of national identity separate from Ottoman control. This crackdown was part of a broader strategy by the Ottoman authorities to quell dissent and eliminate perceived threats to their governance amid the turbulence of wartime dynamics.

The execution took place against a backdrop of rising nationalist sentiments throughout the Ottoman Empire, particularly among Arab populations. Many of these nationalists were motivated by a desire for self-determination and were forming early foundations for a nationalist identity that would later influence Lebanon’s post-war trajectory. Djemal Pasha's actions were meant to serve both as retribution and as a deterrent to other potential nationalists.

Martyrs' Square, where the executions occurred, became a symbol of resistance and sacrifice. The event profoundly shocked the Lebanese public, galvanizing further the nationalist agenda and ultimately leading to a stronger push for independence in the years following the war. The brutal repression exemplified by this event proved to be a pivotal moment in the history of Lebanon, shaping its future political landscape.