The preceding article detailed the UN General Assembly’s adoption of a resolution to partition “Palestine” into separate Jewish and Arab Palestinian states, placing “al-Quds” under international administration on November 29, 1947. Subsequently, numerous clashes erupted between Zionist and Arab forces, culminating in the horrific “DeirYassin” massacre on April 9th. This event marked a dark chapter in modern history as the village was subsequently occupied by Zionist settlers. The article also highlighted the formation of an Arab army that was engaged in the 1948 war. In mid-May 1948, the Jewish council in “Tel Aviv” declared the establishment of a Jewish state in “Palestine” immediately upon the termination of the British Mandate. The British government promptly followed suit by announcing the end of its mandate in “Palestine,” thus igniting the conflict that caused war.
As the war commenced, Arab armies from Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon launched attacks on Zionist settlements in Palestine. The Egyptian army targeted the settlements of KfarDarom and Nir Am in the Negev region, engaging in intense combat during the Battle of Faluja. Al-Quds website reported, “Egyptian soldiers entrusted with safeguarding the southern sector of Palestine seized three Jewish settlements and advanced within a mere twenty kilometers of Tel Aviv.” On May 16, 1948, three Jordanian brigades crossed the Jordan River, establishing a formidable front that inflicted substantial casualties on Israeli forces. Concurrently, the Iraqi army fought ferociously in the northern West Bank, liberating the city of Jenin from Zionist control. Lebanese regular forces captured the villages of Malkiya and Qadas in the Upper Galilee, situated south of the Lebanese border.
One of the most significant and brutal battles of the 1948 war was the Battle of Bab al-Wad, situated on the road connecting Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. Arab forces initiated the conflict by sabotaging this road, which housed the largest Jewish population at the time and served as the sole paved route to Bab al-Wad. They also vandalized the water pipelines that provided drinking water to Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem from the Ras al-Ain spring. Al-Quds website reports, “The Jews attempted to disperse the Arab forces and alleviate the pressure on their supporters at Bab al-Wad. They sought alternative routes and launched assaults on the highlands between the villages of Nabi Samuel, Yidu (Bedouin), and BeitSuriq, but these offensives were unsuccessful, forcing them to retreat from their positions on the hills overlooking Bab al-Wad near the village of BeitMahsir.” Subsequently, Jordanian forces arrived and established positions on the heights between Latrun and Bab al-Wad, successfully repelling Zionist attacks but failing to make any further advancements. Ultimately, the Palestinians secured control of Bab al-Wad, while the Jews suffered substantial losses.
As the Arab armies made advances, the Security Council intervened and imposed a ceasefire on May 29, 1948, outlining twelve specific conditions.
The Security Council,
“Desiring to bring about a cessation of hostilities in Palestine without prejudice to the rights, claims and position of either Arabs or Jews,
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Calls upon all Governments and authorities concerned to order a cessation of all acts of armed force for a period of four weeks;
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Calls upon all Governments and authorities concerned to undertake that they will not introduce fighting personnel into Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon Saudi Arabia, Syria, Transjordan and Yemen during the cease-fire;
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Calls upon all Governments and authorities concerned, should men of military age be introduced into countries or territories under their control, to undertake not to mobilize or submit them to military training during the cease-fire;
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Calls upon all Governments and authorities concerned to refrain from importing or exporting war material. into or to Palestine, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Transjordan or Yemen during the cease-fire;
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Urges all Governments and authorities concerned to take every possible precaution for the protection of the Holy Places and of the City of Jerusalem, including access to all shrines and sanctuaries for the purpose of worship by those who have an established tight to visit and worship at them;