Al-Batani al-Gharbi البطاني الغربي | |
|---|---|
| Etymology: The western Butani[1] | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Al-Batani al-Gharbi (click the buttons) | |
  Al-Batani al-Gharbi Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:31°45′29″N34°41′58″E / 31.75806°N 34.69944°E /31.75806; 34.69944 | |
| Palestine grid | 121/129 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Gaza |
| Date of depopulation | May 13, 1948[4] |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,574dunams (4.574 km2; 1.766 sq mi) |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 980[2][3] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault byYishuv forces |
Al-Batani al-Gharbi was aPalestinian village in theGaza Subdistrict. It was depopulated during the1947–48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine on May 13, 1948, by theGiv'ati Brigade underOperation Barak. It was located 36 km (22 mi) northeast ofGaza.
One mention of al-Batani indicates that it was founded as a ranch by theUmayyad caliphMu'awiya I in the 8th century CE.[5]
The village appeared as an unnamed village on the map thatPierre Jacotin compiled of the area in 1799.[6]
In 1838,Robinson notedel-Butaniyeh, the west, as Muslim village located in the Gaza district.[7]
In 1863 the French explorerVictor Guérin found the village, which he calledBathanieh el-Gharbieh, to have 400 inhabitants. He further noted three grey white mutilatedmarblecolumns by thewell. By the well, there were oxen which made the water rise in a huge bucket. Guérin noted that he had seen a similar system several other places in Palestine, as well as inTunis.[8]
An Ottoman village list of about 1870 indicated 91 houses and a population of 247, though the population count included men only.[9][10]
In 1882, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine described the twoButani villages as being made ofadobe and "situated on low ground, with patches of garden and wells. The western one has also a pond."[11]
According to the1922 census of Palestine conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities, Al-Batani al-Gharbi had a population of 556 inhabitants, all Muslims,[12] which had increased in the1931 census to 667, still all Muslim.[13]
The population in the1945 statistics was 980 Muslims,[2] with 4,574dunams of land, according to an official land and population survey.[3] Of this, 170 dunams were used for citrus and banana plants, 95 were for plantations and irrigable land, 4,152 used for cereals,[14] while 34 dunams were classified as built-up land.[15]
Al-Batani al-Gharbi had an elementary school for boys founded in 1947 and it had an initial enrollment of 119 students. The village had one mosque.[5]
In early May, 1948, theAl-Majdal Arab National Committee (NC), ordered the villagers of Al-Batani al-Gharbi, together with those ofAl-Batani al-Sharqi,Yasur,Bayt Daras and the three Sawafir villages to stay put.[16]
Al-Batani al-Gharbi became depopulated as part ofPalmach's 'Operation Lightning' (Mivtza Barak). The objective was to compel the Arab inhabitants of the area to 'move' and by striking one or more population centres to cause an exodus, which was foreseen given the wave of panic that was sweeping Arab communities after theDeir Yassin massacre.[17] After Haganah had hitBayt Daras, the operational orders to them on the 10 May was to "subdue" Al-Batani al-Gharbi and Al-Batani al-Sharqi, "with the same means used vis-à-visAqir,Bashshit andBayt Daras".[18]
The village was depopulated around May 13, 1948.[4] Following the war the area was incorporated into theState of Israel. In early 1949 AmericanQuaker relief workers reported that many those living in tents in what becameMaghazi refugee camp had come from Al-Batani al-Gharbi.[19]
In 1992 the village site was described: "Cactuses and fig and sycamore trees grow on the site, and some of the village street are still clearly recognizable. The adjacent land is partially cultivated by the nearbykibbutz. A stone quarry is also located on village lands."[20]
