Qatra قطرة | |
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| Etymology: drop[1] | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Qatra (click the buttons) | |
  Qatra Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:31°49′18.9″N34°46′39.1″E / 31.821917°N 34.777528°E /31.821917; 34.777528 | |
| Palestine grid | 129/136 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Ramle |
| Date of depopulation | May 1948[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 7,853dunams (7.853 km2; 3.032 sq mi) |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 1,210[2] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault byYishuv forces |
| Secondary cause | Expulsion byYishuv forces |
| Current Localities | Gedera[4] andKidron[4][5] |
Qatra (Arabic:قطرة) was aPalestinian Arab village in theRamle Subdistrict, located 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) southwest of the city ofRamla and 40 kilometers (25 mi) west ofJerusalem, some 50 meters (160 ft) above sea level.[6] It was depopulated in May 1948.
Qatra was aCanaanite center of political and economic authority that along with 30 other urban sites in regions bordering theMediterranean Sea, entered a period of decline in the LateBronze Age between 1250 and 1150 BCE.[7] Qatra is also tentatively identified with theHellenistic city of Kidron (Cidron, Gedrus) mentioned in the firstBook of the Maccabees(15:39, 41; 16:9), and it has been postulated that its name derives from theHebrew name for Kidron,Qiṭrôn.[6] Others have suggested that Qatra (Katra) is merely a corruption of the biblical Gederoth mentioned inJoshua 15:41,[8] hence the use of the name in theGederot Regional Council.
Qatra has been named as the place of origin of a holy man namedSheikhAhmad al-Qatrawani, who set out from the village due to his inability to fulfill his religious duties there, and settled by'Atara, where hisMamlukshrine still stands.[9][10]
In 1596, Qatra was part of theOttoman Empire,nahiya (subdistrict) ofGaza under theliwa' (district) ofGaza with a population of 46 families and 15 bachelors, an estimated 336 person, allMuslim. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 25% on agricultural products, includingwheat,barley,sesame, and fruit, as well as goats and beehives; a total of 11,340akçe. 1/6 of the revenue went to awaqf.[11]
In 1838,Kutrah was noted as a Muslim village in the Gaza district.[12][13]
In 1863,Victor Guérin noted the village to have 600 inhabitants, and with houses ofadobe. He further noted anoria by thewell, which he assumed to be ancient. By the well were also six sections of barrels ofcolumns of gray marble, the diameter of which was thirty centimetres. The villagers told Guérin they had "always" been there. Hedges of cacti surrounded the village and served as fences for figs and olive trees. There were also several "magnificent"acacias andmimosas there.[14]
An Ottoman village list of about 1870 showed thatKatra had a population of 353, in 161 houses, though the population count included men only. It was also noted that it was located south east ofYibna.[15][16]
In 1882, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine (SWP) described the village as being built ofadobe brick and surrounded by gardens.[17]
In the1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities,Qatra Islam had a population of 640; 639Muslims[18] and 1 Orthodox Christian[19] increasing in the1931 census to 822, all Muslims, in a total of 175 houses.[20]
During its existence as a village in the British Mandate of Palestine it was referred to asQatrat Islam to distinguish it from theJewish settlement ofQatrat Yahud orGedera, as it is called in Hebrew, established in the late 19th century.[21]
In the1945 statistics the population was 1,290, all Muslims,[2] while the total land area was 7,853dunams, according to an official land and population survey.[22] Of this, Arabs used 291 dunams for citrus and bananas, 215 dunums were irrigated or used for orchards, 4,320 dunums were allocated to cereals,[23] while 26 dunams were classified as built-up urban areas.[24]
Qatra was captured byIsrael'sGivati Brigade in May 1948. The operation was according toPlan Dalet. Plan Dalets guidelines to the Givati Brigade gave its leader, Lt. Col.Shimon Avidan, wide discretion. In order to "stabilise" his lines, the plan stated that 'you will determine alone, in consultations with your Arab affairs advisers and Intelligence Service officers, [which] villages in your zone should be occupied, cleansed or destroyed.'[25] During May to early June, Avidan moved to expand his area of control westwards and southwards as part ofOperation Barak.[26]
It was during these operations that they encountered the village of Qatra. The village offered no resistance. The Givati troops entered and conducted an arms collection operation on 5–6 May. About 60 weapons were handed over - but a Jewish officer was shot and killed (either by an Arab or byfriendly fire) while searching one of the houses. Three Arabs were then taken hostage and Givati demanded the name of the killer, and the handover of any foreign irregulars and additional weapons.[27] TheHaganah reoccupied the village and its entire population were either intimidated into flight or expelled on 17 May.[28] TheIDF trucked about 200 refugees staying in Majdal, originally from Qatra, towardsRamla in the summer of 1950.[29]
The operation in Qatra (and a similar operation in the nearby village ofAqir) was characterised by looting and brutal behaviour. The HIS officer who accompanied the troops later highlighted several problems, including the lack of clear orders regarding behaviour, the absence ofPOW camp for detainees, and looting.[30] The Givati Brigade's official history states that after these operations, the brigade HQ acted to 'curtail the instinct to loot and maltreat prisoners [hit'alelut beshvuyim]'.[31]
In 1949, the Israelimoshav ofKidron was established on Qatra's land.[5] The current Israeli towns built on Qatra's land areGedera and Kidron.
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