The Negev resists the blockade -10-16.6, 1948
In spite of the failure of Operation 'Pleshet' the Egyptian army did not advance north, instead they turned east along the Majdal-Faluja-Bait Jibrin axis and beblockaded the Negev by cutting off the roads leading to it. The I.D.F, 'Givati', 'Negev' and 'Yiftah Brigades continually attempted to break the blockade.
The Negev Brigade - 2
The Negev Brigade - 3
Iftach Brigade - Second Battalion
On the eve of the first cease fire, the Egyptian infantry captured the Negev junction on the Majdal-Faluja road, thus completing the רצועת ניתוק along the Majdal-Faluja-Bait Jibrin road occupied by the besieging Egyptian infantry Brigade.
Count Bernadot managed to convince the Egyptians to allow 2 U.N provision convoys to be sent to the besieged Negev during the first cease fire, but clearly the U.N could not be relied upon.
Efforts to reopen a corridor to the Negev:
The first cease fire was scheduled on the 9th of June, 1948. Operation 'An-Far' was scheduled for the night of the 9th of July in order to reopen a corridor to the beblockaded Negev, but the Egyptians reoccupied the outposts north of Kowkaba and no. 138 post west of Hulikat on the 8th of July, 1948. As a result, operation 'An-Far' was moved to the night of the 8th of July- 'Givati' Brigade was to occupy Iraq-Swidan, Bait-Affa and Abadis and 'Negev' Brigade was to occupy the Iraq-Swidan police station.
The 'Negev' Brigade failed to occupy the police station and even though 'Givati' Brigade occupied the villages, it was forced to retreat due to delayed counter attacks, leaving the Negev under blockade.
On the 18th of July, 1948, an attempt was made to reopen the road to the Negev once more before the beginning of the second cease fire declared by the U.N. during operation 'Death to the invader' under the command of 'Givati' Brigade Commander. The 'Negav' Brigade failed to reopen the Julis-Nir-Am road and to occupy Hulikat; 'Givati' Brigade failed to occupy The Negev road junction, but occupied the villages along the Majdal-Bait Jibrin road, thus reopening a narrow corridor to the Negev, south of Negba and occupied Chita; the 8th Brigade occupied Qretia. The enemy began moving south on a bypass between Faluja and Iraq-Swidan while occupying army posts along the way.
On the 27th of July, the occupation of Faluja and Iraq-El-Mnshia failed during operation 'GYS no.1'.
Attempts to break through the רצועת הניתוק:
On the 1st of August, a convoy of 27 vehicles attempted to penetrate the Negev during operation 'GYS no.2' and 24 vehicles managed to reach their destination. On the 18th of August, Operation 'Road to the Negev' failed, 4 trucks and one half track managed to reach their destination while the rest of the vehicles were forced to turn back.
Provision via air: The air route became very important once the land route was blocked, especially when it came to transporting weapons, munitions, officers, professionals and evacuating wounded and captives. The landing strips were lengthened in order to enable the landing of large cargo planes.
Foot convoys: 'Negev' Brigade scouts led dozens of fighters who infiltrated the רצועת הניתוק in order to go on leave during cease fires. Thousands of soldiers managed to infiltrate the Negev during the months of the blockade, but the supply was not sufficient and the road leading to the Negev had to be reopened.
On the 18th of August Ben –Gurion held a meeting with general staff and air force command concerning the failure to reopen the road leading to the Negev, during which they decided to fly the provisions to the Negev instead. It took The 'Negev' Brigade 5 days to prepare a 1,180 m long and 35m wide landing strip between Ruhama and Shoval that was named "Avak" (dust). The operation lasted from the 23rd of August till the 21st of October, during which approximately 834 cargo flights were made back and forth from Ekron to the Negev. 2,495 tons of cargo and 5,098 passengers were transferred during the operation including: 520 tons of food supplies, 500 tons of oils and fuel and 200 tons of munitions and animal supplies.
The Egyptians claimed the operation violated the cease fire, causing the 'Yiftah' brigad to army occupy posts east-north of the landing strip, a number of hills and Hirbet Ma'ahaz, which was occupied and reoccupied during a month of fighting until it was finally reoccupied by the 'Yiftah' Brigade once again. The operation was stopped once the road to the Negev was reopened during operation 'Yoav'.
Count Bernadot managed to convince the Egyptians to allow 2 U.N provision convoys to be sent to the besieged Negev during the first cease fire, but clearly the U.N could not be relied upon.
Efforts to reopen a corridor to the Negev:
The first cease fire was scheduled on the 9th of June, 1948. Operation 'An-Far' was scheduled for the night of the 9th of July in order to reopen a corridor to the beblockaded Negev, but the Egyptians reoccupied the outposts north of Kowkaba and no. 138 post west of Hulikat on the 8th of July, 1948. As a result, operation 'An-Far' was moved to the night of the 8th of July- 'Givati' Brigade was to occupy Iraq-Swidan, Bait-Affa and Abadis and 'Negev' Brigade was to occupy the Iraq-Swidan police station.
The 'Negev' Brigade failed to occupy the police station and even though 'Givati' Brigade occupied the villages, it was forced to retreat due to delayed counter attacks, leaving the Negev under blockade.
On the 18th of July, 1948, an attempt was made to reopen the road to the Negev once more before the beginning of the second cease fire declared by the U.N. during operation 'Death to the invader' under the command of 'Givati' Brigade Commander. The 'Negav' Brigade failed to reopen the Julis-Nir-Am road and to occupy Hulikat; 'Givati' Brigade failed to occupy The Negev road junction, but occupied the villages along the Majdal-Bait Jibrin road, thus reopening a narrow corridor to the Negev, south of Negba and occupied Chita; the 8th Brigade occupied Qretia. The enemy began moving south on a bypass between Faluja and Iraq-Swidan while occupying army posts along the way.
On the 27th of July, the occupation of Faluja and Iraq-El-Mnshia failed during operation 'GYS no.1'.
Attempts to break through the רצועת הניתוק:
On the 1st of August, a convoy of 27 vehicles attempted to penetrate the Negev during operation 'GYS no.2' and 24 vehicles managed to reach their destination. On the 18th of August, Operation 'Road to the Negev' failed, 4 trucks and one half track managed to reach their destination while the rest of the vehicles were forced to turn back.
Provision via air: The air route became very important once the land route was blocked, especially when it came to transporting weapons, munitions, officers, professionals and evacuating wounded and captives. The landing strips were lengthened in order to enable the landing of large cargo planes.
Foot convoys: 'Negev' Brigade scouts led dozens of fighters who infiltrated the רצועת הניתוק in order to go on leave during cease fires. Thousands of soldiers managed to infiltrate the Negev during the months of the blockade, but the supply was not sufficient and the road leading to the Negev had to be reopened.
On the 18th of August Ben –Gurion held a meeting with general staff and air force command concerning the failure to reopen the road leading to the Negev, during which they decided to fly the provisions to the Negev instead. It took The 'Negev' Brigade 5 days to prepare a 1,180 m long and 35m wide landing strip between Ruhama and Shoval that was named "Avak" (dust). The operation lasted from the 23rd of August till the 21st of October, during which approximately 834 cargo flights were made back and forth from Ekron to the Negev. 2,495 tons of cargo and 5,098 passengers were transferred during the operation including: 520 tons of food supplies, 500 tons of oils and fuel and 200 tons of munitions and animal supplies.
The Egyptians claimed the operation violated the cease fire, causing the 'Yiftah' brigad to army occupy posts east-north of the landing strip, a number of hills and Hirbet Ma'ahaz, which was occupied and reoccupied during a month of fighting until it was finally reoccupied by the 'Yiftah' Brigade once again. The operation was stopped once the road to the Negev was reopened during operation 'Yoav'.