Al-Jura

al-Jura
الجورة
Part of the former village site, in 2015
Part of the former village site, in 2015
Etymology: the Hollow[1]
1870s map
1940s map
modern map
1940s with modern overlay map
A series of historical maps of the area around Al-Jura (click the buttons)
al-Jura is located in Mandatory Palestine
al-Jura
al-Jura
Location within the Mandatory Palestine
Coordinates: 31°39′57″N 34°33′17″E / 31.66583°N 34.55472°E / 31.66583; 34.55472
Palestine grid107/119
Geopolitical entityMandatory Palestine
SubdistrictGaza
Date of depopulationNovember 4–5, 1948[4]
Area
 • Total
12,224 dunams (12.224 km2 or 4.720 sq mi)
Population
 (1945)
 • Total
2,420[2][3]
Cause(s) of depopulationMilitary assault by Yishuv forces
Current LocalitiesAshkelon[5]

Al-Jura (Arabic: الجورة) was a Palestinian village that was depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, located immediately adjacent to the towns of Ashkelon and the ruins of ancient Ascalon. In 1945, the village had a population of approximately 2,420 mostly Muslim inhabitants. Though defended by the Egyptian Army, al-Jura was nevertheless captured by Israel's Givati Brigade in a November 4, 1948, offensive as part of Operation Yoav.

Its residents had their origins in Egypt, Hebron, and Bedouin communities.[6]

The Shrine of Husayn's Head was located outside the town, until it was destroyed by the Israeli army in 1950.

The founder and spiritual leader of the Hamas militant organization Ahmed Yassin was born in al-Jura.

  1. ^ Palmer, 1881, p. 360
  2. ^ Department of Statistics, 1945, p. 31
  3. ^ a b Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 46
  4. ^ Morris, 2004, p. xix, village #307, Also gives the cause for depopulation
  5. ^ Khalidi, 1992, p. 117
  6. ^ Grossman, D. (1986). "Oscillations in the Rural Settlement of Samaria and Judaea in the Ottoman Period". in Shomron studies. Dar, S., Safrai, S., (eds). Tel Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad Publishing House. p. 383

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