Ein Ofarim killings

Ein Ofarim killings
Part of Palestinian Fedayeen insurgency
Ein Ofarim killings is located in Southern Negev region of Israel
Ein Ofarim killings
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The location of Hatzeva, Israel
Native nameהפיגוע בעין עופרים
LocationEin Ofarim facility near Hatzeva, Southern Israel
Date12 September 1956; 68 years ago (1956-09-12)
Attack type
Stabbing attack
WeaponsKnives
Deaths3 Israelis
PerpetratorsPalestinian Fedayeen squad

The Ein Ofarim killings was an attack by Palestinian Fedayeen, which occurred on Wednesday night, 12 September 1956.[1][2][3]

The attack

On Wednesday night, 12 September 1956, a Palestinian Fedayeen squad infiltrated into Israel from Jordan. The militants attacked the Ein Ofarim oil-drilling camp near the village Hatzeva, while other personnel were out of the camp for grocery shopping. They killed 3 Druze watchmen,[4][5][6] one in his room. The bodies of the guards were stabbed and their guns were stolen by the attackers.[2]

Victims

The three victims, Nawaf Abu-Ghazi (25 years), Suleiman Hatoum (25 years) and Rafik Abdullah (23 years), were buried in their hometown of Sumei.[7] They were commemorated on Mount Herzl.[7]

Aftermath

With consulting his Cabinet, the Israeli Prime Minister decided on a reprisal raid.[4] Since the nearest Jordanian police fort was 'topologically difficult', the police fort 80 kilometers away at Gharandal was chosen.[4] During the operation, either 9 or 13 Jordanian police and members of a desert camel patrol unit were killed, along with two civilians.[4] IDF casualties in the operation included one dead soldier and 12 wounded soldiers. The police station and nearby structures were destroyed.[4][8]

References

  1. ^ "Israel Cites Jordan Raid". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. No. 345. United Press. 14 September 1956. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b Ad, Meshulam (14 September 1956). "עקבות רוצחי השומרים הובילו לגבול הירדני" [The traces of the murderers of the guards led to the Jordanian border]. Davar. p. 1 – via National Library of Israel.
  3. ^ Eilam, Uzi (2020). פשיטה לילית [Night Raid]. Miskal Publishing. pp. 47, 193, 292. ISBN 9789652011305.
  4. ^ a b c d e Morris, Benny (1993). Israel's Border Wars, 1949–1956. Oxford University Press. pp. 409–410. ISBN 0-19-829262-7.
  5. ^ Gabbai, Sheffi (18 September 1964). "ישן וחדש בנופי ישראל" [Old and new in the landscapes of Israel]. Davar. p. 3 – via National Library of Israel.
  6. ^ Shai, Nachman, ed. (1988). ביטחון 50: צה"ל, קהיליית המודיעין, משרד הביטחון [Security 50: The IDF, the intelligence community, the Ministry of Defense]. Alfa Tikshoret. p. 20. ISBN 9789654740074.
  7. ^ a b "חללי פעולות האיבה: אזרחים חללי פעולות איבה" [Victims of hostilities: Civilians victims of hostilities]. Bituah Leumi.
  8. ^ Israeli, Raphael (2002). Jerusalem Divided: The Armistice Regime, 1947-1967. Routledge. p. 82. ISBN 9780714652665.