Highway transport crisis
By the end of February, 1948, more and more highways connecting between Jewish settlements were cut off. For a while, convoys provided the perfect way of transportation until the Arabs started to ambush and attack the convoys all over the country, causing them heavy losses.
By the end of March the convoy issue reached a state of crisis.
- On the 21.3.48, a convoy including 20 trucks and 6 armored vehicles was attacked on its way to Jerusalem. One of the trucks was set on fire along with its two drivers. On the same day, the 'Dvora' convoy including 12 trucks managed to arrive in Gush-Ezion.
- On the 22.3.48, two convoys were attacked on their way to Jerusalem, but managed to reach their destination.
- On the 23.3.48, Arabs attacked a convoy on its way from Jerusalem to Neve-Ya'acov, killing 14 of its men.
- On the 24.3.48, Arabs attacked a convoy traveling on the road leading from Jerusalem to Tel-Aviv. 30 trucks and 7 armored vehicles, encountered an ambush by the pumping station, 21 kilometers after departing from Hulda, where 200 Arabs were waiting for the convoy on the hills beside the road. 4 trucks managed to arrive in Qaryat El Inab. At 14:15, the 5th truck was forced to stop after hitting a land mine, causing the truck behind it to turn over, now both trucks were blocking the road for the rest of the armored vehicles. The fighting continued for several hours, during which ammunition ran low and the Arabs were threatening to set the trucks on fire along with their inhabitants. By evening , several trucks along with the wounded retreated to the pumping station yard occupied by the British army, and 7 other trucks managed to make their way back to Hulda. Only after the Arabs opened fire at the station, and killed two men, did the British retaliate, assisted the wounded and provided ammunition to the convoy members. British reinforcement arrived by midnight to escort the rest of the unharmed trucks to Gezer (from there they continued to Hulda).
Three men were killed, 7 wounded and 14 deserted vehicles were set on fire
by the Arabs.
- On the 25.3.48, a convoy including 35 trucks left Hulda on its way to Jerusalem, and managed to reach its destination unharmed.
- On the 26.3.48, the roads leading to the Negev were cut off completely.
- On the 27.3.48, a convoy returning from Jerusalem was attacked by Nabi Samuel, and its men were forced to surrender themselves, their weapons and vehicles to the British in order to save themselves. 14 men were killed during the fighting.
- On the 28.3.48, a convoy on its way to the cut off Kibbutz of Yehi'am was attacked near Cabri, during which 42 'Carmeli' members were killed.
- On the 31.3.48, a convoy on its way to Jerusalem was attacked by the Arab village of Hulda and 17 Palmach and Hagana members were killed during the fighting.
By the end of March it became apparent that secured convoys could no longer provide a safe solution for traveling the roads of Israel and that the method of transport must change. At the beginning of April the new method was activated during the 'Nachshon' operation.
- On the 21.3.48, a convoy including 20 trucks and 6 armored vehicles was attacked on its way to Jerusalem. One of the trucks was set on fire along with its two drivers. On the same day, the 'Dvora' convoy including 12 trucks managed to arrive in Gush-Ezion.
- On the 22.3.48, two convoys were attacked on their way to Jerusalem, but managed to reach their destination.
- On the 23.3.48, Arabs attacked a convoy on its way from Jerusalem to Neve-Ya'acov, killing 14 of its men.
- On the 24.3.48, Arabs attacked a convoy traveling on the road leading from Jerusalem to Tel-Aviv. 30 trucks and 7 armored vehicles, encountered an ambush by the pumping station, 21 kilometers after departing from Hulda, where 200 Arabs were waiting for the convoy on the hills beside the road. 4 trucks managed to arrive in Qaryat El Inab. At 14:15, the 5th truck was forced to stop after hitting a land mine, causing the truck behind it to turn over, now both trucks were blocking the road for the rest of the armored vehicles. The fighting continued for several hours, during which ammunition ran low and the Arabs were threatening to set the trucks on fire along with their inhabitants. By evening , several trucks along with the wounded retreated to the pumping station yard occupied by the British army, and 7 other trucks managed to make their way back to Hulda. Only after the Arabs opened fire at the station, and killed two men, did the British retaliate, assisted the wounded and provided ammunition to the convoy members. British reinforcement arrived by midnight to escort the rest of the unharmed trucks to Gezer (from there they continued to Hulda).
Three men were killed, 7 wounded and 14 deserted vehicles were set on fire
by the Arabs.
- On the 25.3.48, a convoy including 35 trucks left Hulda on its way to Jerusalem, and managed to reach its destination unharmed.
- On the 26.3.48, the roads leading to the Negev were cut off completely.
- On the 27.3.48, a convoy returning from Jerusalem was attacked by Nabi Samuel, and its men were forced to surrender themselves, their weapons and vehicles to the British in order to save themselves. 14 men were killed during the fighting.
- On the 28.3.48, a convoy on its way to the cut off Kibbutz of Yehi'am was attacked near Cabri, during which 42 'Carmeli' members were killed.
- On the 31.3.48, a convoy on its way to Jerusalem was attacked by the Arab village of Hulda and 17 Palmach and Hagana members were killed during the fighting.
By the end of March it became apparent that secured convoys could no longer provide a safe solution for traveling the roads of Israel and that the method of transport must change. At the beginning of April the new method was activated during the 'Nachshon' operation.