| Abu Shusha massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of the1948 Palestine war and the1948 Palestinian expulsion | |
 Abu Shusha in 1945 | |
| Location | Abu Shusha,Mandatory Palestine |
| Date | 13–14 May 1948 |
| Target |  Palestinian Arabs |
| Deaths | 60–70+ killed |
| Perpetrators |  Givati Brigade |
TheAbu Shusha massacre took place on 13–14 May 1948 duringOperation Barak, when theZionistGivati Brigade mortared and then stormedAbu Shusha, inMandatory Palestine, killing between 60 and 70+Palestinian Arab villagers.[1][2]
On 13 May, theGivati Brigade launched the second stage ofOperation Barak, codenamed "Operation Maccabi". During this, the village ofAbu Shusha, located 8 km southeast ofRamle, was targeted. On 13–14 May, Abu Shusha was mortared and then stormed by units of the 51st and 54th battalions. Inhabitants fled and houses were blown up, although some remained. The remaining villagers were expelled on 21 May. A nearbyArab Legion unit reported that "the Jews were killing villagers" on 19 May. The Givati Brigade claimed that only 30 Arabs had been killed, while the Arabs claimed that more than 70 had been killed.[3]
Arab authorities in Ramle called forRed Cross intervention and informed it that "the Jews had committed barbaric acts" in Abu Shusha. AHaganah soldier made two attempts to rape a 20-year old female prisoner.[3]
Recent research suggests that around 60 villagers were massacred during the attack.[4][1] In 1995, amass grave with 52 skeletons was discovered in Abu Shusha, although their cause of death is undetermined.[5]
In the village of Abu Shusha in the District of Ramla a unit of the Givati Brigade committed a massacre in which 60 villagers were murdered.