Reprisals
The murder of the seven policemen led to several retaliatory operations by Palmach and Field Operations units, against the small town of Ya’azur, and against the public transport to and from Jaffa.
On the same day, in immediate response to the killing of the policemen, a unit from the Fifth Battalion set up an ambush for Arab transport, in the orange grove between Ya’azur and Mikveh Yisrael. An Arab bus was ambushed, and most of the people aboard were hit. A British unit arrived, and fired into the grove. After they had left, the ambush recommenced operations, and attacked a bus and two trucks, setting them on fire. About twenty Arabs were killed in this operation.
On the night of 3.1.48, units of the Fifth Battalion carried out harassment operations against the town. At 0100, a unit with light mortars fired several rounds into the town. At 0200 another unit left its base at Moledet, and attacked the town from the south-east, occupying several houses, including one from which they had been fired upon.
At 0300 an attack was made upon a group of houses from which convoys had previously been fired upon. One house was blown up, and another three were set on fire. The unit retreated under fire, unharmed.
All the above operations were carried out without losses.
On 20.2.48 --- the thirtieth day after the murder of the policemen --- an operation was carried out against the houses in which the murderers had been based. The assault had three objectives: the ice factory, and several houses alongside it, which had sheltered (among others) Arab officers, German advisers and British deserters. Before the operation, our men disguised as Arabs had gone into the town, returning with information and photos.
A unit of the Fifth Battalion, commanded by Nahum Arieli, set out at 0400. After posting pickets, the assault and demolition units went to work. The unit comprised: a Palmach platoon from Hulda, led by Yehoshua Nevo; Israel Tal, with a Browning machine gun and six men from his platoon; and Amnon Chinski, with a demolition squad from Palmach headquarters.
Tal’s machine gun, set up about 70 meters from the ice factory, put the enemy’s machine guns out of action. A squad led by Amnon Sharak occupied the house on the south side of the road without opposition. The platoon from Hulda burst into the house of Iskanderuni, and took it after some hand-to-hand fighting. Demolition charges were laid in both these houses.
The main objective --- the ice factory --- was taken after a heavy firefight. Under fire, the barbed wire was blown away with a “Bangalore torpedo”. Another charge took care of the door, and the building was occupied after hand-to-hand fighting from room to room. Demolition charges were laid and the men took cover. Fifty kilograms of explosives destroyed the factory completely, together with two adjoining houses.
One of our men was killed in the fighting, and several more were injured.
Our force withdrew, carrying the dead and wounded with them. As dawn broke they observed that they were being followed by a car full of Arabs from Ya’azur. A squad remained behind, and ambushed the car with automatic fire and grenades. After a further encounter at the end of the village, our men returned to base at Hulda without further incident.
In this operation, about 15 of the Arab irregulars who had holed up in Ya’azur were killed.
One of our men was killed in the attack: Rahamim Howard.
On the night of 3.1.48, units of the Fifth Battalion carried out harassment operations against the town. At 0100, a unit with light mortars fired several rounds into the town. At 0200 another unit left its base at Moledet, and attacked the town from the south-east, occupying several houses, including one from which they had been fired upon.
At 0300 an attack was made upon a group of houses from which convoys had previously been fired upon. One house was blown up, and another three were set on fire. The unit retreated under fire, unharmed.
All the above operations were carried out without losses.
On 20.2.48 --- the thirtieth day after the murder of the policemen --- an operation was carried out against the houses in which the murderers had been based. The assault had three objectives: the ice factory, and several houses alongside it, which had sheltered (among others) Arab officers, German advisers and British deserters. Before the operation, our men disguised as Arabs had gone into the town, returning with information and photos.
A unit of the Fifth Battalion, commanded by Nahum Arieli, set out at 0400. After posting pickets, the assault and demolition units went to work. The unit comprised: a Palmach platoon from Hulda, led by Yehoshua Nevo; Israel Tal, with a Browning machine gun and six men from his platoon; and Amnon Chinski, with a demolition squad from Palmach headquarters.
Tal’s machine gun, set up about 70 meters from the ice factory, put the enemy’s machine guns out of action. A squad led by Amnon Sharak occupied the house on the south side of the road without opposition. The platoon from Hulda burst into the house of Iskanderuni, and took it after some hand-to-hand fighting. Demolition charges were laid in both these houses.
The main objective --- the ice factory --- was taken after a heavy firefight. Under fire, the barbed wire was blown away with a “Bangalore torpedo”. Another charge took care of the door, and the building was occupied after hand-to-hand fighting from room to room. Demolition charges were laid and the men took cover. Fifty kilograms of explosives destroyed the factory completely, together with two adjoining houses.
One of our men was killed in the fighting, and several more were injured.
Our force withdrew, carrying the dead and wounded with them. As dawn broke they observed that they were being followed by a car full of Arabs from Ya’azur. A squad remained behind, and ambushed the car with automatic fire and grenades. After a further encounter at the end of the village, our men returned to base at Hulda without further incident.
In this operation, about 15 of the Arab irregulars who had holed up in Ya’azur were killed.
One of our men was killed in the attack: Rahamim Howard.