Hatta (abandoned Arab village)
Encyclopedia
Hatta was a Palestinian
village of 1,125 inhabitants that was depopulated after a July 17, 1948 assault by Israel
i forces of the Givati Brigade
during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war
. The Jewish localities of Revaha
, Zavdiel
and Aluma
are currently located on the former village's lands.
in central Arabia, who camped near the site at the end of the fifth century A.D.
(d. 1228) referred to the village as Hattawa and said it was the home of the Islamic scholar ´Amru al-Hattawi.
The scholar Edward Robinson
passed the by village in 1838, and described its houses as being made of adobe
bricks.
In the late nineteenth century, the village of Hatta was described as being surrounded by gardens, some of which contained a few tamarisk trees.
, the last operation of the Ten Days period—the period between the two ceasefires of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
In August 1948 the Israeli settlement Revaha
was slated to be built on the site, however, the plan was not implemented until 1953. The settlement of Zavdiel
was established in 1950 on village land, while Aluma
was founded on village land in 1965.
Walid Khalidi
described the village site in 1992: "A small portion of the site is covered by a forest, planted by Israelis. The debris of houses are scattered under the trees. Sycamore
trees and cactuses also grow on the site. The surrounding lands are cultivated. The British built military airport is still in use."
and some intellectuals in village hatta Mohammed Abdul Qadir Tawfik Lafi (AL- Tweisi)..
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
village of 1,125 inhabitants that was depopulated after a July 17, 1948 assault by Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i forces of the Givati Brigade
Givati Brigade
The Givati Brigade is an infantry brigade of the Israel Defense Forces, and serves as its amphibious force. Givati soldiers are designated by purple berets...
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...
. The Jewish localities of Revaha
Revaha
Revaha is a religious moshav in south-central Israel. Located in the southern Shephelah near Kiryat Gat, it falls under the jurisdiction of Shafir Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 449....
, Zavdiel
Zavdiel
Zavdiel is a religious moshav in southern Israel. Located in Hevel Lakhish near Kiryat Gat, it falls under the jurisdiction of Shafir Regional Council. In 2006, it had a population of 413....
and Aluma
Aluma
Aluma is an ultra-orthodox communal settlement in southern Israel. Located in the southern coastal plain around three kilometres north-west of Kiryat Gat, it falls under the jurisdiction of Shafir Regional Council. In 2006, it had a population of 537....
are currently located on the former village's lands.
Location
The village was situated in a flat area on the southern coastal plain. It was probably named after the al-Hut tribe, originally from NajdNajd
Najd or Nejd , literally Highland, is the central region of the Arabian Peninsula.-Boundaries :The Arabic word nejd literally means "upland" and was once applied to a variety of regions within the Arabian Peninsula...
in central Arabia, who camped near the site at the end of the fifth century A.D.
History
The Arab geographer Yaqut al-HamawiYaqut al-Hamawi
Yāqūt ibn-'Abdullah al-Rūmī al-Hamawī) was an Islamic biographer and geographer renowned for his encyclopedic writings on the Muslim world. "al-Rumi" refers to his Greek descent; "al-Hamawi" means that he is from Hama, Syria, and ibn-Abdullah is a reference to his father's name, Abdullah...
(d. 1228) referred to the village as Hattawa and said it was the home of the Islamic scholar ´Amru al-Hattawi.
The scholar Edward Robinson
Edward Robinson (scholar)
Edward Robinson was an American biblical scholar, known as the “Father of Biblical Geography.” He has been referred to as the “founder of modern Palestinology.” -Biography:...
passed the by village in 1838, and described its houses as being made of adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
bricks.
In the late nineteenth century, the village of Hatta was described as being surrounded by gardens, some of which contained a few tamarisk trees.
1948, and after
Hatta was captured on July 17–18, 1948, during Operation Death to the InvaderOperation Death to the Invader
Operation Death to the Invader , also Death to the Invaders, was an Israeli military operation during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. It was carried out on July 16–18, 1948 in the northwestern Negev desert. The operation's objective was to link Jewish villages in the Negev desert with the rest of...
, the last operation of the Ten Days period—the period between the two ceasefires of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
In August 1948 the Israeli settlement Revaha
Revaha
Revaha is a religious moshav in south-central Israel. Located in the southern Shephelah near Kiryat Gat, it falls under the jurisdiction of Shafir Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 449....
was slated to be built on the site, however, the plan was not implemented until 1953. The settlement of Zavdiel
Zavdiel
Zavdiel is a religious moshav in southern Israel. Located in Hevel Lakhish near Kiryat Gat, it falls under the jurisdiction of Shafir Regional Council. In 2006, it had a population of 413....
was established in 1950 on village land, while Aluma
Aluma
Aluma is an ultra-orthodox communal settlement in southern Israel. Located in the southern coastal plain around three kilometres north-west of Kiryat Gat, it falls under the jurisdiction of Shafir Regional Council. In 2006, it had a population of 537....
was founded on village land in 1965.
Walid Khalidi
Walid Khalidi
Walid Khalidi is an Oxford University-educated Palestinian historian who has written extensively on the Palestinian exodus. He is General Secretary and co-founder of the Institute for Palestine Studies, established in Beirut in December 1963 as an independent research and publishing center...
described the village site in 1992: "A small portion of the site is covered by a forest, planted by Israelis. The debris of houses are scattered under the trees. Sycamore
Ficus sycomorus
Ficus sycomorus, called the sycamore fig or the fig-mulberry , sycamore, or sycomore, is a fig species that has been cultivated since ancient times...
trees and cactuses also grow on the site. The surrounding lands are cultivated. The British built military airport is still in use."
and some intellectuals in village hatta Mohammed Abdul Qadir Tawfik Lafi (AL- Tweisi)..
See also
- Operation An-FarOperation An-FarOperation An-Far was a military operation launched by Israel's Givati Brigade on the night of July 8–9 during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Its objectives were to gain control of approaches in southern Judea and block the advance of the Egyptian army...
- List of Arab towns and villages depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
External links
- Welcome to Hatta Palestine Remembered
- Hatta from the Khalil Sakakini Cultural CenterKhalil Sakakini Cultural CenterKhalil Sakakini Cultural Center is an organization established in 1996. It is located at 4 Raja Street, Ramallah in the West Bank. The traditional manor that houses the centre was the former family home of Khalil Salem Salah, the mayor of Ramallah between 1947/1951, is now owned by the Palestinian...