One of the ethnic cleansing massacres carried out by the Hagana gangs in Palestine occurred in May 1948 in Tantura, south of Haifa, resulting in the deaths of approximately 280 Palestinians, mostly men, who were buried in mass graves. The village was completely destroyed, and those who survived were expelled beyond the borders of the occupation state.
A Historic Village
Tantura is an ancient Palestinian village dating back to the 13th century BC when the Canaanite village of Dora sat atop a prominent small hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, resembling a “tinturu,” a raised structure shaped like a cone or cap. Strategically located between the major cities of Jaffa and Haifa, Tantura served as a vital connection hub for internal trade activities, benefiting from its railway station on the coastal line and a port that provided access to external trade, making it a coveted target for occupation.
By the end of May 1948, Tantura, which spanned an area of up to 14,520 dunams, became a devastated village with few remnants of its ancient landmarks visible, and its 1,500 inhabitants became a mere memory.
The coastal village of Tantura, forcefully evacuated by its residents, now hosts settlements (Al Jazeera)
The Israeli Invasion
On May 9, 1948, the occupying authorities, including local leaders aligned with the armed Hagana group, convened to discuss Arab villages in Palestine that had not submitted to occupation and were located within “Israel” per the UN-approved 1947 partition plan. Tantura was among these villages, leading to a decision to expel its inhabitants.
Following the establishment of Israel a week later, members of the Hagana’s 33rd Battalion, known as the “Alexandroni” Brigade, specifically the 3rd Company, launched an attack on Tantura on the night of May 23, 1948, led by Dan Eshatein from all directions. The village’s entrances and access roads were sealed off to prevent support from surrounding villages, with Israeli military boats patrolling the sea throughout the invasion.
Residents were awoken at midnight by sounds of gunfire and explosions everywhere. The village’s defenders, few in number with limited arms and ammunition, lacking training and experience, wasted much ammunition during the conflict and quickly ran out. The Hagana forces indiscriminately fired on unarmed civilians, killing many in the village streets and homes.
By morning, the village fell to occupation forces who gathered the residents at the beach, separating women, children, and elderly from the men. Witnesses recounted how Israeli soldiers looted money, gold, jewelry, watches, and documents from both men and women, including infants who were not spared from the search. Reports also confirmed cases of rape.
Zionist gangs prevented the inhabitants of Tantura from returning to their village after the massacre, forcing them to leave. (Al Jazeera)
