Khubbayza خبْيزة Khubbeiza | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Etymology: "March Mallow"[1] | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Khubbayza (click the buttons) | |
  Khubbayza Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:32°33′22″N35°03′56″E / 32.55611°N 35.06556°E /32.55611; 35.06556 | |
| Palestine grid | 156/218 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Haifa |
| Date of depopulation | 12–14 May 1948[3] |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,854dunams (4.854 km2; 1.874 sq mi) |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 290[2] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault byYishuv forces |
| Current Localities | None |
Khubbayza (Arabic:خبْيزة) was aPalestinianArab village in theHaifa Subdistrict, located 29.5 kilometers (18.3 mi) southeast ofHaifa. It was situated on hilly terrain, south of Wadi al-Sindiyana, between theJezreel Valley with theMediterranean coast. In 1945, it had a population of 290.[4] Khubbayza was depopulated during the1948 War on May 12, 1948, in theBattle of Mishmar HaEmek.[5]
The village is named after theArabic term formallow, a wild plant used inPalestinian cuisine, particularly in rural areas. To the north of Khubbayza laid the ruins of Khirbat Kalba, named afterBanu Kalb, theArab tribe. It contained traces of human settlement.[4]
In 1859, Khubbayza had an estimated 270 inhabitants who cultivated 24feddans of land,[6] whileVictor Guérin, who visited in 1870, found the village to have 400 inhabitant.[7]
In 1882 thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine described Khobbeizeh as a "village of moderate size on high ground, withwells in the valley to the south".[6]
A population list from about 1887 showed thatel Khobbeizeh had about 315 inhabitants, all Muslim.[8]
In the1922 census of Palestine conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities,Khubaizeh had a population 140, all Muslims,[9] increasing in the1931 census to 209, still all Muslims, in a total of 42 houses.[10]
In this period, it was oriented along a northwest axis and its houses, constructed of stone, were clustered together. The villagers earned their living in agriculture, mostly cultivating grains and vegetables, but also worked in animal husbandry. Domestic water was obtained from numerous springs and wells within Khubbayza's boundaries.[4]
In the1945 statistics, it had a population of 290 Muslim inhabitants,[2] and the total land area was 4,854 dunams.[11] Of the land, Arabs used 65 dunams for plantations and irrigable land, 2,295 for cereals,[12] while 11 dunams were built-up (urban) land.[13]
Israel's pre-military force, theHaganah, launched a raid against the village on January 1, 1948, but no casualties were reported. It was not captured until several months later, however. In the wake of theBattle of Mishmar HaEmek in mid April 1948, several of the surrounding villages were occupied by theHaganah. TheIrgun, aJewish paramilitary group, took advantage of Israel's gains and Khubbayza was one of several other villages captured between May 12 and May 14. Most of the inhabitants fled after mortar attacks.[5][14] Following the war the area was incorporated into theState of Israel and the lands of Khubbayza were left undeveloped. According to Palestinian historianWalid Khalidi, in 1992 the site consisted of only "stone debris, scattered among thorny bushes".[5]
