[هدى نورالدين الخطيب]

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However, the “New York Times” correspondent said in a report published on 7/1/1948 “On New Year eve, the “Haganah” attacked Balad El-Sheikh claiming that the attack was in retaliation for the killing of the Jews in the clashess that took place in the “Refinery”. The correspondent added: “While a group of the attackers were disguised wearing Arab white headcloth (kufia) were firing from the hills overlooking the village, another much larger group entered the outskirts the village and attacked several houses with hand grenades and machineguns, killing many unarmed civilians, including children, women and elderly people”.

This massacre, in addition to the other acts of violence, had a demoralizing effect on the Arab inhabitants of “Haifa” city. The history of the “Haganah” stated: “A force of 170 elements of the “Palmach”was ordered to encircle Balad El-Sheikh and to cause harm to as many men as possible. The attackers left behind more than 60 persons killed, including a number of women, children and old people”.

One of the accounts estimated the number of martyrs at 30. The killers destroyed scores of houses in the village.(17)

For the sake of facts and history, most of the martyrs were Arab workers of the “Refinery” close to the village. The workers were from different villages who resided in the region of “Hawwasa”, which is part of Balad El-Sheikh. Hawwasa was built of tin huts.

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“Sheikh Burayk” Massacre – 1947

It is an Arab village of the “Haifa” district.

The Masascre : In 1947, the Zionist terrorist gangs attacked the village killing 40 of its population.(18)
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“Jaffa” Massacre – 4 January 1948

“Stern” Zionist gang threw a bomb at a crowded square in “Jaffa” killing 15 and injuring 98.(19)

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The Massacre of “The Old Government House” in Jaffa

On 4 January 1948, the “Irgun” Zionist gang placed a car filled with explosives adjacent to the “Old Government House” in the city of “Jaffa”. The blast destroyed the building and its vicinity. Thirty Arabs were killed and others injured. Among the victims were some of the educated youth of Jaffa.(20)

21-
“Semiramis” Massacre – 5 January 1948

The “Haganah” terrorist gang blasted with explosives “Semiramis” hotel situated in the Arab neighborhood of “Qatmoon” in “Jerusalem”. The hotel was destroyed on its guests who were all Arabs. Nineteen Arabs were killed and 20 were injured. Following this massacre, the residents of Qatmoon began moving from it due to its vicinity of the Jewish neighborhoods.(21)

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“Al-Quds( Jerusalem) ” Massacre – 7 January 1948

The “Irgun” terrorist gang threw a bomb on “Jaffa Gate” in Jerusalem, killing 18 Arabs and injuring 41.(22)

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The “Arab Saraya” Massacre – 8 January 1948

The “Arab Saraya” (Arab Government House) is a tall building situated opposite the well-known “Jaffa City Clock”. The building housed the headquarters of the Arab National Committee in Jaffa. The Zionist terrorist gangs placed a booby-trapped car the explosion of which killed 70 Arabs. And wounding scores more.

The Zionist Army magazine “Pama Haneh”, in its issue of 4 January 1978, gave details of this massacre as recounted by its perpetrator “Rahamim Hakmoob”.(23)

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“Ramleh” Massacre – 15 January 1948

The Zionist terrorists perpetrated a massacre in the town of Ramleh. The killers were from the “Palmach’ soldiers under the command of “Yigal Allon”, Yitzhak Rabin” and “David Ben Gurion” of the Zionist “Haganah” terrorist organization. On that day, members of this terrorist gang threw bombs at one of the Arab houses in the town. This forced the Arab citizens living in the area to flee to nearby “Sarafand” after the Zionist terrorists showered them with bullets.(24)

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“Haifa” Massacre – 16 January 1948

Zionist terrorists disguised in the uniforms of British soldiers entered a store near the “Maghrebi Building” located in Salahuddin” street in the city of “Haifa” under the pretext of inspection. They placed a time bomb which exploded destroying the building and its vicinity, killing 31 men, women and children and injuring double that number.(25)

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“Yazoor” Massacre – 22 January 1948

Yazoor is a Palestinian Arab village five kms to the southeast of “Jaffa”. In 1945, its population was 4030.
The Massacre: On 22 January 1948, the operations commander of the “Haganah” Zionist organization issued an order to the commander of the “Palmach, Yigal Allon saying: “You must carry out the quickest possible and without further orders an operation against the village of Yazoor. The aim is to disturb the village for a long time, by infiltrating into it and scorching some houses. I authorize you to select the method you deem fit”.

Two hours after the issuance of the order, a group of the “Palmach” attacked a bus near “Yazoor”, injuring the driver and some passengers. On the same day, another group attacked a second bus killing and injuring a number of persons. The “Palmach” asnd the “Jaf’ati” brigade attacks against Yazoor and the Arab vehicles heading for it remained under attack for twenty continuous days. Other units exploded charges near the houses.

On 22 January 1948, the “Haganah” command decided to attack Yazoor and to blast off the ice plant and two adjacent buildings. The planning for the operation was assigned to Yithak Rabin, the operations officer of the “Palmach”. The officer in charge of the training section at that time was Brig. “Yitzrael Tal”. It was decided to start the attack with the break of dawn. At night, the attacking forces entered Yazoor through the orange groves.

The group of “Tal” opened fire on the ice plant in the village, while other groups opened fires and hurled hand grenades at the houses. The group of “Jeshua Nabo” blasted the gate of the “Iskandaroni” building and the ice plant building.
The massacre led to the killing of 15 martyrs of Yazoor inhabitants, most of whom were murdered while asleep.(26)

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“Haifa” Massacre – 28 January 1948

The Zionist terrorists of “Hadar” neighbourhood overlooking the Arab “Abbas Street” in the city of “Haifa”, a barrel filled with explosives. It destroyed the houses over its inhabitants. Twenty Arabs were killed and about 50 were injured.(27)

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“Tirat Tulkarm” Massacre – 10 February 1948

Al-Tira is a Palestinian Arab village in the district of “Tulkarm”. In 1945, its population counted 3180, and its area was 96 donums, while its land area was 31359 donums. The Zionist invaders occupied it in 1948.

The Massacre: On 10 February 1948, a group of Zionist terrorists stopped a number of Arab citizens who were on their way back to “Tirat Tulkarm” and fired on them, killing seven and injuring five others.(28)

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“Saasaa” Massacre – 14 February 1948

Saasaa is a Palestinian Arab village 20 kms from the city of Safad. In 1945, it had a population of 1130. The Zionist invaders occupied it on 16 February 1948 while Palestine was still under the British mandate.
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