Agha Orietta – The Ghetto Freedom Fighters
The small ship, "The Ghetto Freedom Fighters," sailed from Metaponto port in southern Italy on May 13th 1947, with 1,457 immigrants on board.
"The Ghetto Freedom Fighters" Haapala ship (named after the Jews who rose against the Nazi government and fought in ghettos during the Holocaust) prepared to depart for Israel from La Spezia port in Italy. The ship commander was Palyam member, Eliezer Varsh (Armoni) and the 'Gidoni' was Shalom Burshtein. Additional escorts were Palyam member, Shaul Aharonov (Oren) and Chaim Kuperman.
The small ship, "The Ghetto Freedom Fighters," sailed from Metaponto port in southern Italy on May 13th 1947, with 1,457 immigrants on board. It was spotted by a British reconnaissance aircraft opposite Rafah on May 23rd, and was followed by two destroyers and a few hours later. The destroyers butted against "The Ghetto Freedom Fighters" on both sides, and soldiers raided the ship, using water hoses and tear gas. The immigrants threw cans, bottles and leftover food at them; but after three hours, they were forced to surrender. The ship was towed to the Haifa port. The next day, the immigrants were transferred to the "Ranimid Park" deportation ship that took them to Detention Camp No.55 in Cyprus.
Eliezer Varsh continued to Cyprus with the immigrants. The remaining escorts hid in a 'Slik,' and were rescued the following day by Jewish cleaners who cleaned the ship.
The small ship, "The Ghetto Freedom Fighters," sailed from Metaponto port in southern Italy on May 13th 1947, with 1,457 immigrants on board. It was spotted by a British reconnaissance aircraft opposite Rafah on May 23rd, and was followed by two destroyers and a few hours later. The destroyers butted against "The Ghetto Freedom Fighters" on both sides, and soldiers raided the ship, using water hoses and tear gas. The immigrants threw cans, bottles and leftover food at them; but after three hours, they were forced to surrender. The ship was towed to the Haifa port. The next day, the immigrants were transferred to the "Ranimid Park" deportation ship that took them to Detention Camp No.55 in Cyprus.
Eliezer Varsh continued to Cyprus with the immigrants. The remaining escorts hid in a 'Slik,' and were rescued the following day by Jewish cleaners who cleaned the ship.