Adriana Ariella – Palmach
"Palmach" sailed from Boca di Magra Port in Italy on September 11th 1947, with 414 immigrants on board.
The "Palmach" Haapala ship (named after the Palmach) was prepared to depart for Israel from La Spezia port in Italy, by Avraham Zakai and a local crew. The ship commander was Palyam member Moshe Rabinovitch (Carmeli.) The 'Gidoni' was Avinoam Kupshtein (Adam.) An additional escort was Jewish Brigade member Amos Fink.
"Palmach" sailed from Boca di Magra Port in Italy on September 11th 1947, with 414 immigrants on board. On September 12th, a smaller ship named "Albertina" departed with 200 immigrants on board, accompanied by the 'Gidoni' Ovad Sadeh. On September 19th, the two ships met at sea. The next day, the immigrants from the smaller ship transferred to the larger one, which now had 614 immigrants on board. The foreign "Palmach" crew, excluding the head mechanic, transferred to the smaller ship and returned to Italy.
On September 22nd, a British destroyer spotted "Palmach" near Ras En Naqura, and ordered "Palmach" to stop. When it didn't, the destroyer banged against it. In return, immigrants threw stones and objects towards the destroyer. The British were highly aggressive; in a quick and rough take over that lasted a half an hour, they used water hoses as well as large amounts of teargas, which caused some immigrants temporary blindness and burns. They also fired at the immigrants with small-arms.
The intensity of the struggle was evident in its outcome: The immigrant, Yonah Dov Schwartz was killed. It is unclear whether he was host or fell overboard after being hit by British soldiers. Schwartz was the first Haapala casualty in an on board struggle with the British after WWII ended.
31 other immigrants, among them the ship commander, Moshe Rabinovitch, were injured and hospitalized in Israeli hospitals.
"Palmach" was towed to Haifa Port. On September 23rd, its immigrants were transferred onto the "Ocean Vigor" deportation ship. During the negotiations preceding their transfer, about 60 immigrants jumped overboard, intending to swim their way to Haifa port; but they were caught and drawn out by the British. The immigrants were deported to detention camp No.61 in Cyprus.
Six Israeli journalists were allowed to join them. Rabinovitch was taken to a British military hospital and from there to Atlit camp, which he escaped a few days afterwards. The two remaining escorts intermingled with the immigrants and arrived in Cyprus with them.
"Palmach" sailed from Boca di Magra Port in Italy on September 11th 1947, with 414 immigrants on board. On September 12th, a smaller ship named "Albertina" departed with 200 immigrants on board, accompanied by the 'Gidoni' Ovad Sadeh. On September 19th, the two ships met at sea. The next day, the immigrants from the smaller ship transferred to the larger one, which now had 614 immigrants on board. The foreign "Palmach" crew, excluding the head mechanic, transferred to the smaller ship and returned to Italy.
On September 22nd, a British destroyer spotted "Palmach" near Ras En Naqura, and ordered "Palmach" to stop. When it didn't, the destroyer banged against it. In return, immigrants threw stones and objects towards the destroyer. The British were highly aggressive; in a quick and rough take over that lasted a half an hour, they used water hoses as well as large amounts of teargas, which caused some immigrants temporary blindness and burns. They also fired at the immigrants with small-arms.
The intensity of the struggle was evident in its outcome: The immigrant, Yonah Dov Schwartz was killed. It is unclear whether he was host or fell overboard after being hit by British soldiers. Schwartz was the first Haapala casualty in an on board struggle with the British after WWII ended.
31 other immigrants, among them the ship commander, Moshe Rabinovitch, were injured and hospitalized in Israeli hospitals.
"Palmach" was towed to Haifa Port. On September 23rd, its immigrants were transferred onto the "Ocean Vigor" deportation ship. During the negotiations preceding their transfer, about 60 immigrants jumped overboard, intending to swim their way to Haifa port; but they were caught and drawn out by the British. The immigrants were deported to detention camp No.61 in Cyprus.
Six Israeli journalists were allowed to join them. Rabinovitch was taken to a British military hospital and from there to Atlit camp, which he escaped a few days afterwards. The two remaining escorts intermingled with the immigrants and arrived in Cyprus with them.