Eilabun massacre
Encyclopedia
The Eilabun massacre was committed by soldiers of Israel Defence Force during Operation Hiram
on 30 October 1948. A total of 14 men from the Palestinian Christian
village of Eilabun
(Eilaboun) were killed, 12 of them executed by the Israeli forces after the village had surrendered. The remaining villagers were expelled to Lebanon
, living as refugees
for some months before being allowed to return.
The massacre
at Eliabun is relatively well documented. It was one of the few Arab
villages among hundreds depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war
, to which most of the displaced were eventually able to return. The village elders, the mukhtar
and Maronite priests subsequently gave written testimony of the events. The Massacre was documented by the award-winning documentary film Sons of Eilaboun by Hisham Zreiq
, a film based upon the events as told by the villagers.
, the Golani Brigade
's 12th Battalion, entered the village on 30 October 1948 and the population surrendered. Villagers flew white flags and were escorted by four local priests. Most of the villagers were hiding in two churches. The soldiers were angered by a procession had taken place in the village a month earlier, in which the heads of two decapitated Israeli soldiers, missing after an attack on a nearby hillside, had been displayed.
The soldiers ordered the people to gather in the village square. One old man was shot while emerging from a church as the other villagers also emerged from their hiding places. The soldiers' commander ordered that the remaining inhabitants, numbering some 800 people, be led to the neighbouring village of Maghar
, 5 km north. The commander and two other soldiers, having selected 17 young men executed 12 of them. The remaining five were held and used as human shields to protect armoured vehicles and were later sent to a POW camp. Israeli soldiers looted the village.
When the villagers reached Maghar, they were ordered by the soldiers to continue on to Kafr Inan. As they neared this village another old man, Sam'an ash Shoufani, was killed by fire emanating from an armoured car, bringing the death toll to 14. Three women were also injured. The inhabitants of Kafr Inan and Eilabun were expelled to Farradiyya
, a nearby village. The Israeli soldiers gathered the people of Eilabun, Kafr Inan and Farradiyya, and robbed the villagers of some 500 pounds. The women were stripped of their jewellery. After spending the night in Farradiyya, the next morning the Israeli soldiers separated the women, children and elderly from the men. Some 42 youngsters from these three villages were sent to a detention camp. The women, children and the old of the three villages were then marched to Meirun, where they spent three nights without any food or water. At Meirun, the Israeli soldiers put everyone in two cattle trucks, and took them to Rmaich
(in Lebanon
). Kafr Inan and Farradiyya were later razed to the ground by the Israeli army.
About fifty-two villagers were left in Eliabun, mainly the elderly and children. The village priests complained bitterly about the expulsion of the villagers and demanded their return. Following a United Nations
investigation and pressure from the Vatican
, the villagers eventually managed to secure their return within six months of the massacre. Most of the population managed to return from Lebanon, and all the men were released from the POW camps.
The massacre was documented in a report by the United Nations observers.
Operation Hiram
Operation Hiram was a military operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It was led by General Moshe Carmel, and aimed at capturing the upper Galilee region from the Arab Liberation Army forces led by Fawzi al-Qawuqji and a Syrian battalion...
on 30 October 1948. A total of 14 men from the Palestinian Christian
Palestinian Christian
Palestinian Christians are Arabic-speaking Christians descended from the people of the geographical area of Palestine. Within Palestine, there are churches and believers from many Christian denominations, including Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholic , Protestant, and others...
village of Eilabun
Eilabun
Eilabun is an Israeli-Arab local council in Israel's North District, located in the Beit Netofa Valley. According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, Eilabun had a population of 4,400 inhabitants in 2005. The population is predominantly Christian...
(Eilaboun) were killed, 12 of them executed by the Israeli forces after the village had surrendered. The remaining villagers were expelled to Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, living as refugees
Palestinian refugee
Palestinian refugees or Palestine refugees are the people and their descendants, predominantly Palestinian Arabic-speakers, who fled or were expelled from their homes during and after the 1948 Palestine War, within that part of the British Mandate of Palestine, that after that war became the...
for some months before being allowed to return.
The massacre
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
at Eliabun is relatively well documented. It was one of the few Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
villages among hundreds depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
, to which most of the displaced were eventually able to return. The village elders, the mukhtar
Mukhtar
Mukhtar meaning "chosen" in Arabic, refers to the head of a village or mahalle in many Arab countries as well as in Turkey and Cyprus. The name refers to the fact that mukhtars are usually selected by some consensual or participatory method, often involving an election. Mukhtar is also a common...
and Maronite priests subsequently gave written testimony of the events. The Massacre was documented by the award-winning documentary film Sons of Eilaboun by Hisham Zreiq
Hisham Zreiq
Hisham Zreiq , also spelled Zrake, is an award-winning Palestinian Christian Independent film maker, poet and visual artist. He began working in computer art in 1994, and in 1996 started exhibiting his work in galleries and museums....
, a film based upon the events as told by the villagers.
Overview
After a battle outside the village in which six Israeli soldiers were injured and four Israeli armoured cars were destroyed, a battle that was part of Operation HiramOperation Hiram
Operation Hiram was a military operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It was led by General Moshe Carmel, and aimed at capturing the upper Galilee region from the Arab Liberation Army forces led by Fawzi al-Qawuqji and a Syrian battalion...
, the Golani Brigade
Golani Brigade
The Golani Brigade is an Israeli infantry brigade that is subordinated to the 36th Division and traditionally associated with the Northern Command. Its symbol is a green tree on a yellow background, and its soldiers wear a brown beret. It is one of the most highly decorated infantry units in the...
's 12th Battalion, entered the village on 30 October 1948 and the population surrendered. Villagers flew white flags and were escorted by four local priests. Most of the villagers were hiding in two churches. The soldiers were angered by a procession had taken place in the village a month earlier, in which the heads of two decapitated Israeli soldiers, missing after an attack on a nearby hillside, had been displayed.
The soldiers ordered the people to gather in the village square. One old man was shot while emerging from a church as the other villagers also emerged from their hiding places. The soldiers' commander ordered that the remaining inhabitants, numbering some 800 people, be led to the neighbouring village of Maghar
Maghar
Maghar is the ninth month of the Nanakshahi calendar, which governs the activities within Sikhism. This month coincides with November and December in the Gregorian and Julian calendars and is 30 days long.-November:...
, 5 km north. The commander and two other soldiers, having selected 17 young men executed 12 of them. The remaining five were held and used as human shields to protect armoured vehicles and were later sent to a POW camp. Israeli soldiers looted the village.
When the villagers reached Maghar, they were ordered by the soldiers to continue on to Kafr Inan. As they neared this village another old man, Sam'an ash Shoufani, was killed by fire emanating from an armoured car, bringing the death toll to 14. Three women were also injured. The inhabitants of Kafr Inan and Eilabun were expelled to Farradiyya
Farradiyya
Farradiyya was a Palestinian Arab village of 670 located southwest of Safad.Farradiyya was situated on the southern slopes of Mount Zabud with an average elevation of above sea level. The Safad-Nazareth highway passed it to the north...
, a nearby village. The Israeli soldiers gathered the people of Eilabun, Kafr Inan and Farradiyya, and robbed the villagers of some 500 pounds. The women were stripped of their jewellery. After spending the night in Farradiyya, the next morning the Israeli soldiers separated the women, children and elderly from the men. Some 42 youngsters from these three villages were sent to a detention camp. The women, children and the old of the three villages were then marched to Meirun, where they spent three nights without any food or water. At Meirun, the Israeli soldiers put everyone in two cattle trucks, and took them to Rmaich
Rmaich
Rmeish is located in south Lebanon, Caza Beint Jbeil near the Lebanese-Israeli border occupying an area of 20 km2. The ruins found in the village indicate that the area was occupied by the Romans and the Crusaders at some stage in history...
(in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
). Kafr Inan and Farradiyya were later razed to the ground by the Israeli army.
About fifty-two villagers were left in Eliabun, mainly the elderly and children. The village priests complained bitterly about the expulsion of the villagers and demanded their return. Following a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
investigation and pressure from the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, the villagers eventually managed to secure their return within six months of the massacre. Most of the population managed to return from Lebanon, and all the men were released from the POW camps.
The massacre was documented in a report by the United Nations observers.
See also
- Killings and massacres during the 1948 Palestine War
- The Sons of EilabounThe Sons of EilabounThe Sons of Eilaboun is a 2007 documentary film by Palestinian artist and film maker Hisham Zreiq , that tells the story of the Nakba in Eilaboun and Eilabun massacre, which was committed by the Israeli army during Operation Hiram in October 1948...
- List of massacres in Israel
External links
- Palestine Remembered - Eliabun
- The Sons of Eliaboun
- Sons of Eilaboun
- Palestinian Diaspora by Gary Olson
- Leaving Haifa, 1999
- The Palestinians' Right of Return by Robin Miller
- The expulsion of the Palestinians re-examined By Dominique Vidal
- Right of Return story