al-Muharraqa المحرّقة al-Muharrqah | |
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| Etymology: Kh. Muntaret el Baghl: "the ruin of the watch tower of the mule"[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-Muharraqa (click the buttons) | |
  al-Muharraqa Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:31°28′01″N34°36′41″E / 31.46694°N 34.61139°E /31.46694; 34.61139 | |
| Palestine grid | 113/097 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Gaza |
| Date of depopulation | May 25, 1948[4] |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,855dunams (4.855 km2; 1.875 sq mi) |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 580[2][3] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault byYishuv forces |
| Current Localities | Yakhini[5] |
Al-Muharraqa (Arabic:المحرّقة) was aPalestinianArab village in theGaza Subdistrict, located 14.5 kilometers (9.0 mi) east ofGaza city. The village laid on rolling terrain on the southern coastal plain ofPalestine, on a bend in thewadi. It had an elevation of 125 meters (410 ft) and a total land area of 4,855dunams, most of which was public property, while its built-up area of 29 dunams wasArab-owned. Al-Muharraqa was depopulated during the1948 Arab-Israeli War.[5]
Although not mentioned inByzantine sources, al-Muharraqa was inhabited during this period, according to archaeological evidence.[5] Byzantine ceramics, together with fragments of marblecolumns and a fragmentary mosaic pavement with geometric patterns have been found.[6]
During theMamluk period from the 13th to 15th centuries, the lands and surplus agricultural produce of al-Muharraqa were dedicated as awaqf for the maintenance of theDome of the Rock inJerusalem and theGreat Mosque of Gaza.[5]
It was incorporated into theOttoman Empire in 1517, and in asijill (royal order) from 941/1535 all of the revenue from Al-Muharraqa went toRibat al-Mansuri (Com.); a hospital in Jerusalem started byAl-Mansur Qalawun in 1282.[7] In the 1596tax records, it was under the administration of thenahiya of Gaza, part of theSanjak of Gaza, with a population of 83Muslim households, an estimated 457 persons. The villagers paid a fixed tax rate of 25% on a number of crops, including wheat, barley, beehives, and goats; a total of 26,600akçe. All of the revenue went to aWaqf.[8]
Al-Muharraqa was likely abandoned in either the 17th or 18th century, since it lacked mention by travellers, but was repopulated in the late 1870s.[5]
In 1838Edward Robinson noted it asel Muhurrakah, in the Gaza district, being "in ruins or deserted".[9]
In 1883 thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine found of archaeological remains at the place, calledKhürbet Muntaret el Baghl, "a few scattered stones and ruined rubblecisterns on a slope."[10]
During theBritish Mandate period, the overall layout of the village was rectangular, and continued to expand in a rectangular pattern along the roads leading to the highway and the village of Kawfakha.[5]In the1922 census of Palestine,Muharraqa had a population of 204Muslims,[11] increasing in the1931 census whenMuharraqa had a population of 354 Muslims in 86 houses.[12]
In the1945 statistics Al-Muharraqa had a population of 580 Muslims,[2] with a total of 4,855dunams of land, according to an official land and population survey.[3] Of this, 12 dunams were used for plantations and irrigable land, 4,622 for cereals,[13] while 39 dunams were public built-up land.[14]
The houses of the village were constructed ofmud bricks, and there was amosque and a school; the latter opened in 1945 with an enrollment of 60 students. The mosque, school, and a number of small shops constituted al-Muharraqa's nucleus. Water for household use was primarily obtained from a slightly salty 90 meters (300 ft) well, but was supplemented with rainwater which collected in some shallow domestic wells. Agriculture was the main source of income, especially the village's chief crop, barley. Figs, grapes, and almonds were also cultivated.[5]
During the1948 Arab-Israeli War, the village withKawfakha was raided by thePalmach'sNegev Brigade on May 27–28, and a correspondent forThe New York Times reported it was officially captured on May 29.[15]Israeli historianBenny Morris claims most of al-Muharraqa's inhabitants were driven out at that time, but it was not thoroughly destroyed and depopulated until August 16; Israeli forces were officially observing the second truce, however, Morris writes that they proceeded to mine and destroy the village for "military reasons".[5]
Following the war the area was incorporated into theState of Israel and themoshav ofYakhini was built north of the village site in 1950 on village land.[5]T'kuma, established in 1949, although the latter was built on lands belonging to the city of Gaza, but just 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) west of al-Muharraqa's village site.[5]
Palestinian historianWalid Khalidi described the village remains in 1992:
The site is overgrown with thorny plants and short grasses and surrounded byeucalyptus trees. It is marked by piles of rubble from buildings, including the village diwan (a meeting and guest house). There are also the remnants of a mill and a well. The cemetery, overgrown with wild vegetation, still exists, in a dilapidated condition, and the fallen superstructure of one of the tombs is visible. The lands in the vicinity are cultivated by farmers.[5]
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