Al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya السوافير الغربية | |
|---|---|
| Etymology: The western nomads[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-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya (click the buttons) | |
  Al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:31°41′57″N34°42′11″E / 31.69917°N 34.70306°E /31.69917; 34.70306 | |
| Palestine grid | 122/123 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Gaza |
| Date of depopulation | May 18, 1948[4] |
| Area | |
• Total | 7,523dunams (7.523 km2; 2.905 sq mi) |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 1,030[2][3] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Fear of being caught up in the fighting |
| Current Localities | Merkaz Shapira,[5]Masu'ot Yitzhak,[5] |
Al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya was aPalestinian Arab village in theGaza Subdistrict. It was depopulated during the1948 War on May 18, 1948, during the second stage ofOperation Barak. It was located 30 km northeast ofGaza city. It was one of three namesake villages, alongsideAl-Sawafir al-Sharqiyya andAl-Sawafir al-Shamaliyya.
Remains of a winepress and ahypocausts, belonging to a bathhouse, both dating to the lateRoman era, have been excavated here.[6]
Twocemeteries from theByzantine era, together with many ceramic remains from fifth–seventh centuries CE have been excavated.[7] Two pool areas, building remains, and parts of a potter's wheel, all dating to the Byzantine era have also been found.[6] A Greek inscription has been found on a limestone slab,[8] and the remains of a wall, with numerous pottery sherds, dating to the Byzantine period (fifth–sixth centuries CE).[9]
12 centuryCrusaderchurch endowments and land deeds mention Latin settlement in Zeophir/al-Sawāfīr. However, it is not clear which village of three Sawafirs these records pertain to.[10]
Potterysherds from theMamluk era has also been found.[6]
Al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya was incorporated into theOttoman Empire in 1517 with the rest ofPalestine, and by the 1596Daftar,[11] the village formed partnahiya (subdistrict) ofGaza under theliwa' (district) ofGaza with a population of 43 households, or an estimated 237 people. All wereMuslims. The villagers paid a fixed tax-rate of 25% on a number of crops, including wheat, barley, summer crops, vineyards, fruit trees, as well as on goats, beehives; a total of 8,500Akçe.[11][12]
In 1838 the three Sawafir villages were noted located in the Gaza district. The western village was noted as "in ruins or deserted,” while the two others were noted as being Muslim.[13][14]
In 1863Victor Guérin found in this village akoubbeh consecrated to aSheikh Muhammed. He noted that many antique building blocks were used in this sanctuary.[15]
In 1882 thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine described it as one of threeSuafiradobe villages. Each had small gardens andwells.[16]
According to the1922 census of Palestine conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities, Al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya had a population of 572 inhabitants, all Muslims,[17] increasing in the1931 census when it had an all-Muslim population of 723 in 134 houses.[18]
By the1945 statistics, this had increased to 1,030 Muslims,[2] with a total of 7,523 dunams of land.[3] Of this, 585 dunums were for plantations or irrigable land, 6,663 dunums were for cereals,[19] while 585 dunams were classified as un-cultivable land.[20]
al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya had shared a school with the other two Sawafir villages, and in 1945 it had an enrollment of about 280.[21]
In early May, 1948, the inhabitants of the three Al-Sawafir villages were ordered not to flee, by theAl-Majdal National Committee.[22]
On May 18, theGivati Brigade for a second time conqueredAl-Sawafir al-Sharqiyya together with Al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya. Their operational orders were: "To conquer the villages, to cleanse them of inhabitants (women and children should [also] be expelled), to take several prisoners....[and] to burn the greatest number of houses."[23] The Givati troops torched and blew up several houses, however, after they withdrew, the Palestinian villagers returned.[23] At the 23 May 1948, Israeli reports say that at all the three Al-Sawafir villages the inhabitants slept in the fields at night, but returned to work in the villages by day.[24] By late June, bothAl-Sawafir al-Sharqiyya and Al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya were again "full of Arabs."[23]
Following the war the area was incorporated into theState of Israel, with the villages ofMerkaz Shapira andMasu'ot Yitzhak established on Al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya land.[5]
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