al-Masmiyya al-Saghira المسمية الصغيرة Masmiyyat al-Hurani al-Huraniyya | |
|---|---|
Village | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Al-Masmiyya al-Saghira (click the buttons) | |
  al-Masmiyya al-Saghira Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:31°45′10″N34°47′56″E / 31.75278°N 34.79889°E /31.75278; 34.79889 | |
| Palestine grid | 131/128 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Gaza |
| Date of depopulation | July 8–9, 1948[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 6,478dunams (6.478 km2; 2.501 sq mi) |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 530[1][2] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault byYishuv forces |
| Current Localities | Masmiya Bet,[4]Kfar HaRif[5] |
Al-Masmiyya al-Saghira (Arabic:المسمية الصغيرة), also known asMamsiyyat al-Hurani andal-Huraniyya, was aPalestinian Arab village in theGaza Subdistrict, located 42 kilometers (26 mi) northeast ofGaza. It was situated at an elevation of 60 meters (200 ft) in the southern coastal plain ofOttoman Syria.
Established in the late 19th century by locals from its twinAl-Masmiyya al-Kabira, Hamula clan of Al-Hurani, following fueds with other residents.[5] Al-Masmiyya al-Saghira was depopulated during the1948 Arab-Israeli War, but prior to that, in 1945, it had a population of 530 inhabitants.[5]
Al-Masmiyya al-Saghira was established in the second half of the 19th century by al-Hurani clan who had lived in the adjacental-Masmiyya al-Kabira, but left because of feuds with other residents.[5][6] Thus, the village was also known as "Masmiyyat al-Hurani". The adjectivalSaghira means "minor" inArabic and was used to differentiate it from al-Mamsiyyaal-Kabira, the latter word meaning "major".[5]
In the1922 census of Palestine conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities,Mesmiyet Saghira had a population of 261 inhabitants, allMuslims,[7] increasing in the1931 census whenMasmiya El Saghira had an all-Muslim population of 354 in 73 houses.[8]
In the1945 statistics the population ofEl Masmiya es Sagira was 530 Muslims,[1] while the total land area was 6,478dunams, according to an official land and population survey.[2] Of this, a total of 147 dunams were used for citrus and bananas, 7 for plantations and irrigable land, 6,126 for cereals,[9] while 18 dunams were built-up areas.[10]
Seven small shops provided the village with its basic needs and children attended school in al-Masmiyya al-Kabira. Agriculture was the mainstay of the economy, grain being the dominant crop. In addition to cultivation, the inhabitants raised livestock which numbered approximately 4,000 animals, including sheep, goats, cattle, camels, mules. Farmers participated in the weekly market ofal-Faluja, and also sold their products in the cities of Gaza,al-Majdal (Ashkelon), andJaffa.[5]
The circumstances of al-Masmiyya al-Saghira's capture byIsrael was identical to those of its sister village, al-Masmiyya al-Kabira which was occupied by theGivati Brigade on July 8–9, 1948. Israeli historianBenny Morris writes that the military operation was undertaken occurred in the ten days between the first two truces of the1948 Arab-Israeli War and that it "precipitated the evacuation of the village". Following the war the area was incorporated into theState of Israel and themoshav ofKfar HaRif was established on al-Masmiyya al-Saghira's lands in 1956. According toWalid Khalidi: "Virtually no trace of the village remains, and the site is overgrown with weeds, tall grasses, and a scattering of eucalyptus trees".[5]
