Battle of Beersheba (1938)

Battle of Beersheba
	Part of 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine
Date	9–10 September 1938
Location	Beersheba, Mandatory Palestine
Result	Rebel victory[1]
Belligerents
Rebels	British Empire
Commanders and leaders
Abd Al-Halim Al-Julani; ("Shalaf"); Military commander of the Hebron	Unknown British police chief †
Strength
	500[2]
Casualties and losses
	Tens injured; One missing; 250 rifles and machine guns; 50 ammo boxes; 50 pistols; 200 bombs

The Battle of Beersheba is a battle that took place between the Palestinian rebels and the British Mandate forces. The battle led to the rebels taking control of the city.[3]

Battle

The rebels, with the aid of teachers within the city, kept track of the British army's movements over a lengthy period. This operation was conducted in secrecy and surprise as the British thought Beersheba would not be attacked due to its isolation and lack of Zionist settlers. Al-Jolani commanded a group of insurgents to be stationed on the Jerusalem-Hebron route, and another group to guard south of Hebron and block off the Gaza-Hebron road. This operation was initiated at midday on 9 September, after encircling the town.

The rebels seized 100 old rifles, a large number of helmets and clothes, and a rapid-fire machine gun, along with two bags of spare parts for it. The rebels later used it to shoot down two British planes in the battle of Jourat Bahlas. The rebels also released prisoners.[4]

The rebels did not set up any form of government in the city, as Beersheba was mainly seen as a revolutionary stronghold and the British had limited sway there. Authority over Beersheba was completely regained only in November.[5][6]

The locals greeted the rebels with ululation and rose water.[7]

References

Nasasra, Mansour (2014). "Memories from Beersheba: The Bedouin Palestine Police and the Frontiers of the Empire". Bulletin of the Council for British Research in the Levant. 9: 32–38. doi:10.1179/1752726014Z.00000000023.
Anderson, Charles (2021). "When Palestinians Became Human Shields: Counterinsurgency, Racialization, and the Great Revolt (1936–1939)". Comparative Studies in Society and History. 63 (3): 625–654. doi:10.1017/S0010417521000219. S2CID 235663103.
Yacobi, Haim; Nasasra, Mansour (July 2019). Routledge Handbook on Middle East Cities. ISBN 9781317231189.
"Kanafani (1972): The 1936-39 Revolt in Palestine".
Yacobi, Haim; Nasasra, Mansour (July 2019). Routledge Handbook on Middle East Cities. ISBN 9781317231189.
"BEERSHEBA TAKEN BY BRITISH TROOPS; All Palestine Towns That the Arab Rebels Seized Are Now Controlled by Military TERRORISTS STILL ACTIVE Judge of Moslem Court Shot Dead in Hebron-Wounds Fatal to Foe of Mufti". The New York Times. 22 November 1938.
Anderson, Charles (2021). "When Palestinians Became Human Shields: Counterinsurgency, Racialization, and the Great Revolt (1936–1939)". Comparative Studies in Society and History. 63 (3): 625–654. doi:10.1017/S0010417521000219. S2CID 235663103.

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[1] Nasasra, Mansour (2014). "Memories from Beersheba: The Bedouin Palestine Police and the Frontiers of the Empire". Bulletin of the Council for British Research in the Levant. 9: 32–38. doi:10.1179/1752726014Z.00000000023.

[2] Anderson, Charles (2021). "When Palestinians Became Human Shields: Counterinsurgency, Racialization, and the Great Revolt (1936–1939)". Comparative Studies in Society and History. 63 (3): 625–654. doi:10.1017/S0010417521000219. S2CID 235663103.

[3] Yacobi, Haim; Nasasra, Mansour (July 2019). Routledge Handbook on Middle East Cities. ISBN 9781317231189.

[4] "Kanafani (1972): The 1936-39 Revolt in Palestine".

[5] Yacobi, Haim; Nasasra, Mansour (July 2019). Routledge Handbook on Middle East Cities. ISBN 9781317231189.

[6] "BEERSHEBA TAKEN BY BRITISH TROOPS; All Palestine Towns That the Arab Rebels Seized Are Now Controlled by Military TERRORISTS STILL ACTIVE Judge of Moslem Court Shot Dead in Hebron-Wounds Fatal to Foe of Mufti". The New York Times. 22 November 1938.

[7] Anderson, Charles (2021). "When Palestinians Became Human Shields: Counterinsurgency, Racialization, and the Great Revolt (1936–1939)". Comparative Studies in Society and History. 63 (3): 625–654. doi:10.1017/S0010417521000219. S2CID 235663103.