May 13, 1948
Kfar Etzion Falls
Historical context
On May 13, 1948, Kfar Etzion fell. Defenders who had gathered after a cease-fire were fired on, and only four survived.
Archive record
Read the event, then follow its documented sources and archive threads.
- Date
- May 13, 1948
- Verified sources
- 2
- Archive threads
- 4
On this day, the day before Israel declared independence, the Arab Legion and local fighters broke into Kibbutz Kfar Etzion. The Gush Etzion Heritage Center records that the defenders sought a cease-fire, left their posts, and handed over their ammunition. They were then fired on as they gathered. Only four survived.
One hundred twenty-seven Jewish fighters and residents died in the final battle and the killing that followed. Historians differ on how many of those 127 were killed after they had stopped fighting.
Research trail
Sources and further reading
- Gush Etzion Heritage Center · Gush Etzion Heritage Center · Gush Etzion View source
- Remembering the defenders of Kfar Etzion · Jerusalem Post · Jerusalem Post View source
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