Al-Qastal
Encyclopedia
Al-Qastal was a Palestinian
village that was depopulated in the lead up the 1948 Arab-Israeli war
.
in 1191–2. However, no Frankish remains are known today.
In 1881 it was described as "a small stone village in a conspicuous position on a rocky hill-top" with springs to the east.
At the time of the 1931 census
, Qastal had 14 occupied houses and a population of 55 Muslims and 4 Christians.
By 1944/45 the village had a total of 42 dunums of land allocated to cereals; while 169 dunums irrigated or used for orchards, including 50 dunams planted with olive trees.
and the Army of the Holy War
, led by Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni
, the Arab Jerusalem Hills sector commander. It was a key position on the Jaffa-Jerusalem road
that was used by Arab
forces to besiege the Jews of Jerusalem. The village was assaulted by pre-state Israel
i forces from the Palmach
's Fourth Battalion during Operation Nachshon
. Its inhabitants fled as a result of the assault.
Forces under Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni recaptured al-Qastal from the Palmach on April 8, 1948. al-Husayni himself was killed in the attack; his death was a factor in the loss of morale among his forces. The Jewish forces retreated to the Jewish settlement of Motza
. Palmach
troops retook the village on the night of April 8-9th; they blew up most of the houses of the village and made the hill a command post. The Palmach memorial web site records 18 Palmach members killed at al-Qastal on 8 April 1948.
The Jerusalem area neighbourhood of Mevaseret Zion
is located on the former lands of Al-Qastal.
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
village that was depopulated in the lead up the 1948 Arab-Israeli war
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
.
History
Under the name of Belveer or Beauverium, Qastal belonged to the Hospitalers by c. 1168 and was listed amongst the castles supposedly destroyed by al-AdilAl-Adil I
Al-Adil I was an Ayyubid-Egyptian general and ruler of Kurdish descent. From his honorific "Sayf al-Din" he was sometimes known to the Frankish crusaders as "Saphadin".- Life :...
in 1191–2. However, no Frankish remains are known today.
In 1881 it was described as "a small stone village in a conspicuous position on a rocky hill-top" with springs to the east.
At the time of the 1931 census
1931 census of Palestine
The 1931 census of Palestine was the second census carried out by the authorities of the British Mandate of Palestine. It was carried out on 18 November 1931 under the direction of Major E. Mills. The first census had been conducted in 1922...
, Qastal had 14 occupied houses and a population of 55 Muslims and 4 Christians.
By 1944/45 the village had a total of 42 dunums of land allocated to cereals; while 169 dunums irrigated or used for orchards, including 50 dunams planted with olive trees.
Events of 1948
Located 8 kilometers west of Jerusalem, al-Qastal was defended by the Arab Liberation ArmyArab Liberation Army
The Arab Liberation Army , also translated as Arab Salvation Army, was an army of volunteers from Arab countries led by Fawzi al-Qawuqji...
and the Army of the Holy War
Army of the Holy War
The Army of the Holy War or Holy War Army was a force of Palestinian Arab irregulars in the 1947-48 Palestinian civil war led by Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni and Hasan Salama. The force has been described as Husayni's "personal" army...
, led by Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni
Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni
Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni was a Palestinian Arab nationalist and fighter who in late 1933 founded the secret militant group known as the Organization for Holy Struggle, , which he and Hasan Salama commanded as the Army of the Holy War during the 1936-1939 Arab Revolt and during the 1948...
, the Arab Jerusalem Hills sector commander. It was a key position on the Jaffa-Jerusalem road
Highway 1 (Israel)
Highway 1 , is the main highway connecting Tel Aviv with Jerusalem.-History:The section between Latrun and Jerusalem roughly follows an ancient path connecting Jaffa and Jerusalem...
that was used by Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
forces to besiege the Jews of Jerusalem. The village was assaulted by pre-state Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i forces from the Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
's Fourth Battalion during Operation Nachshon
Operation Nachshon
Operation Nachshon was an Jewish military operation during the 1948 war. Lasting from 5–20 April 1948, its objective was to break the Siege of Jerusalem by opening the Tel-Aviv - Jerusalem road blockaded by Palestinian Arabs and to supply food and weapons to the isolated Jewish community of...
. Its inhabitants fled as a result of the assault.
Forces under Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni recaptured al-Qastal from the Palmach on April 8, 1948. al-Husayni himself was killed in the attack; his death was a factor in the loss of morale among his forces. The Jewish forces retreated to the Jewish settlement of Motza
Motza
Motza ת is a neighbourhood in the western edge of Jerusalem, Israel, located 600 metres above sea level. In the Judean Hills, surrounded by forest, it is a relatively isolated place connected to Jerusalem by the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and the winding mountain road to Har Nof...
. Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
troops retook the village on the night of April 8-9th; they blew up most of the houses of the village and made the hill a command post. The Palmach memorial web site records 18 Palmach members killed at al-Qastal on 8 April 1948.
The Jerusalem area neighbourhood of Mevaseret Zion
Mevaseret Zion
Mevaseret Zion is a suburb of Jerusalem, Israel. Mevaseret Zion is composed of two distinct townships, Maoz Zion and Mevaseret Yerushalayim—under the jurisdiction of one local council. The newer neighborhoods of Mevaseret Zion were not part of either settlement.Mevaseret Zion is located on a...
is located on the former lands of Al-Qastal.
See also
- List of Arab towns and villages depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
- List of villages depopulated during the Arab-Israeli conflict
External links
- Welcome To al-Qastal
- Al-Qastal, Palestine Family.net