The Platoon did not arrive
On the following day word came from Gush Ezion, that the platoon had not arrived. Since there was no communication with the platoon, the intelligence service took steps to find out what had become of it.
The following night, 16.1.1948, it was decided to take a different route, through the Elah valley, starting from the village of Hartuv. This route was known to several of the Palmach men, from previous patrols in which they had taken part. It had formerly been used for moving weapons to the Gush Dan. Officers and scouts of the Palmach who knew the route, estimated that the objective, to reach Gush Ezion in a single night,was feasible. The following day, the platoon arrived at Hartuv. The plan called for them to start out at 1900 hours. By 0300 hours, they should reach the Gush, and complete sabotage operations on the Jerusalem-Hebron road. The platoon was not ready to set out until 2130 hours, and there was a discussion as to whether they should start out that night. Danny Mass, who was in command, decided that they should set out as planned, but left behind at Hartuv two men who had no weapons. Finally, at 2305 hours, on the night of 16.1.48, the fighters set out through the Elah valley for Gush Ezion, a distance of about 25 kilometers. After covered eight kilometers, one of the men sprained his ankle, and was helped back to Hartuv by two fighters. Thirty-five men continued on their way.
The following morning word came from Gush Ezion that the platoon had not arrived. Since there was no communication with the platoon, the Intelligence Service [Shai] took steps to find out what had become of it. The platoon had carrier pigeons with it, and at Hartuv they were awaited anxiously, but they did not arrive.
The platoon did not reach Gush Ezion. All its fighters were killed in battle with the Arabs, five kilometers from Gush Ezion. From information pieced together over the years, the following picture emerges: The platoon circled the village of Beit Natif, and advanced along the Gador stream between the villages of Tsurif and Jaba. The distance remaining, from Tsurif to Gush Ezion, was four or five kilometers. Even though it involved a climb of 500 meters, the way was free of villages; If the platoon had reached that position in darkness, as originally planned, they could have made it unnoticed to Gush Ezion, even in broad daylight. Leaving Hartuv so late, they were overtaken by daybreak while still on the way. A local Arab spotted them, one kilometer past Hirbet Ilin, and alerted the villagers (“faz’a”), who gathered in large numbers and threatened the platoon.
The following morning word came from Gush Ezion that the platoon had not arrived. Since there was no communication with the platoon, the Intelligence Service [Shai] took steps to find out what had become of it. The platoon had carrier pigeons with it, and at Hartuv they were awaited anxiously, but they did not arrive.
The platoon did not reach Gush Ezion. All its fighters were killed in battle with the Arabs, five kilometers from Gush Ezion. From information pieced together over the years, the following picture emerges: The platoon circled the village of Beit Natif, and advanced along the Gador stream between the villages of Tsurif and Jaba. The distance remaining, from Tsurif to Gush Ezion, was four or five kilometers. Even though it involved a climb of 500 meters, the way was free of villages; If the platoon had reached that position in darkness, as originally planned, they could have made it unnoticed to Gush Ezion, even in broad daylight. Leaving Hartuv so late, they were overtaken by daybreak while still on the way. A local Arab spotted them, one kilometer past Hirbet Ilin, and alerted the villagers (“faz’a”), who gathered in large numbers and threatened the platoon.