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Israeli occupation date:
16th of July 1948 (held out under siege for over two months).
Israeli attacking
brigade: A special force drawn from the Israeli Navy, Golani,
Carmeli, and
Alexandroni brigades.
Village defenders: Local
Palestinian militia, Arab Liberation Army volunteers, and some
assistance from the
Iraqi army in Tulkarm and Jinin.
Israeli acts of terror:
On 12th of December 1947, Irgun Zvai Leumi (IZL) terror gang raided
the village and killed
13, and wounded 10 villagers. Also when al-Tira was occupied, the
Israeli soldiers
massacred and burned 25 to 30 of the village defenders.
Village remains after
destruction by Israelis : The village has been mostly destroyed with
the exception of the
village school and three village houses (one of the houses belongs
to 'Irsan al-Dhib).
Ethnically cleansing by
Israelis: Between 24th April and 3rd May 1948, al-Tira women and
children (about 600)
were bused out by the British troops to Jinin and Nablus areas, but
the
fighting men
successfully defended their village until second half of July 1948.
Land ownership before
occupation
Ethnic Group
Land
Ownership
Arab 23,940
Jewish 6,553
Public 14,769
Total 45,262
Population before Occupation
Year Population
1596
286
19th
century 1,200
1931 3,191
1945 5,270 =
5,240 Muslims + 30 Christians
Number of houses: In
(1931): 624 (includes Tira Station, Neuhardhof, Kafr Samir
Station, al-Kababir).
Town's name through
history: The Crusades referred to al-Tira by St. Yohan de Tire.
Schools: The village had
two elementary schools, one was for boys and the school
was for girls (one of
the schools is still standing).
Archeological sites: al-Tira
contained five khirbas; one of them, Khirbat al-Dayr, which
contained the reins of
the St. Brocardus monastery, some previously inhabited caves,
and a vaulted tunnel.
Israeli
settlements on town lands: ha-Chotrim, Tirat Karmel, Megadim, Kefar
Gallim, &
Beyt Tzvi.
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