Bayt 'Affa

Bayt 'Affa

بيت عفا
Bayt 'Affa بيت عفا
	Etymology: The house of Affeh (or chaste)
	1870s map 1940s map modern map 1940s with modern overlay mapShow all A series of historical maps of the area around Bayt 'Affa (click the buttons)
	Bayt 'Affa Location within Mandatory Palestine
	Coordinates: 31°39′41″N 34°42′24″E / 31.66139°N 34.70667°ECoordinates: 31°39′41″N 34°42′24″E / 31.66139°N 34.70667°E
Palestine grid	122/118
Geopolitical entity	Mandatory Palestine
Subdistrict	Gaza
Date of depopulation	Not known
Area
• Total	5,808 dunams (5.808 km2 or 2.242 sq mi)
Population (1945)
• Total	700

Bayt 'Affa was a Palestinian village in the Gaza Subdistrict. It was depopulated and destroyed during the 1947–48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine. It was located 29 km (18 mi) northeast of Gaza and Wadi al-Rana ran east of the village.

History[]

The village had a khirba which contained the remains of walls made of ancient columns, uncut stones and a well.^[5]

Ottoman era[]

Incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1517 with all of Palestine, Bayt 'Affa appeared in the 1596 tax registers as being in the Nahiya of Gaza, part of Gaza Sanjak. It had a population of 26 Muslim households,^[6] an estimated 143 inhabitants,^[5] who paid taxes on wheat, barley, vine yards and fruit trees.^[5] 1/24 th of the revenue went to a waqf.^[6]

In 1838 Edward Robinson noted it as Beit 'Affa, a Muslim village in the Gaza district.^[7]^[8]

In 1863, Victor Guérin found it to be a village of 400 inhabitants, surrounded by tobacco and cucumber fields,^[9] while an Ottoman village list of about 1870 indicated 37 houses and a population of 90, though the population count included men, only.^[10]^[11]

In 1883, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine described Bayt 'Affa as resembling Iraq Suwaydan; that is, a moderate-sized adobe village situated on a plain. In addition, Bayt 'Affa was supplied with a well.^[12]

British Mandate era[]

According to the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Bayt 'Affa had a population of 422 Muslims,^[13] which had increased in the 1931 census to 462, still all Muslim.^[14]

Bayt 'Affa 1930 1:20,000

In the 1945 statistics, there were 700 Muslims,^[4] with 5,808 dunams of land, according to an official land and population survey.^[3] Of this, 14 dunams were used for plantations and irrigable land, 5,657 used for cereals,^[15] while 26 dunams were built-up land.^[16]

Bayt 'Affa 1945 1:250,000

Bayt 'Affa 1930 1:20,000

1948 and aftermath[]

The population probably left their homes following the capture of the village by the Israeli army around 9 July 1948. The Egyptian army drove the Israelis out a few days later and the village was not re-taken until Operation Yoav in the second half of October. The village was destroyed.^[5] Following the war the area was incorporated into the State of Israel.

In 1953 Yad Natan was established just south of the village site, on the land of Iraq Suwaydan.^[5]

In 1992 the village site was described: "There are no traces of village houses; only sycamore and carob trees and cactuses mark the site. Fruit trees, especially citrus, are planted on the surrounding land and are irrigated from the Jordan River diversion canal."^[5]

References[]

^ Palmer, 1881, p. 365
^ Morris, 2004, p. xix, village #303. Morris gives both cause and date for depopulation as "Not known"
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 45
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Department of Statistics, 1945, p. 31 Archived 2020-04-14 at the Wayback Machine
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Khalidi, 1992, p. 86
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 144
^ Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, Appendix 2, p. 118
^ Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 2, p. 369
^ Guérin, 1869, p. 126
^ Socin, 1879, p. 145
^ Hartmann, 1883, p. 133 also noted 37 houses
^ Conder and Kitchener, 1883, SWP III, p. 259, Quoted in Khalidi, 1992, p. 86
^ Barron, 1923, Table V, Sub-district of Gaza, p. 9
^ Mills, 1932, p. 2
^ Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 86
^ Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 136

Bibliography[]

Barron, J.B., ed. (1923). Palestine: Report and General Abstracts of the Census of 1922. Government of Palestine.
Conder, C.R.; Kitchener, H.H. (1883). The Survey of Western Palestine: Memoirs of the Topography, Orography, Hydrography, and Archaeology. 3. London: Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund.
Department of Statistics (1945). Village Statistics, April, 1945. Government of Palestine.
Guérin, V. (1869). Description Géographique Historique et Archéologique de la Palestine (in French). 1: Judee, pt. 2. Paris: L'Imprimerie Nationale.
Hadawi, S. (1970). Village Statistics of 1945: A Classification of Land and Area ownership in Palestine. Palestine Liberation Organization Research Center.
Hartmann, M. (1883). "Die Ortschaftenliste des Liwa Jerusalem in dem türkischen Staatskalender für Syrien auf das Jahr 1288 der Flucht (1871)". Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins. 6: 102–149.
Hütteroth, Wolf-Dieter; Abdulfattah, Kamal (1977). Historical Geography of Palestine, Transjordan and Southern Syria in the Late 16th Century. Erlanger Geographische Arbeiten, Sonderband 5. Erlangen, Germany: Vorstand der Fränkischen Geographischen Gesellschaft. ISBN 3-920405-41-2.
Khalidi, W. (1992). All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948. Washington D.C.: Institute for Palestine Studies. ISBN 0-88728-224-5.
Mills, E., ed. (1932). Census of Palestine 1931. Population of Villages, Towns and Administrative Areas. Jerusalem: Government of Palestine.
Morris, B. (2004). The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-00967-6. (pp. 256, 436, 437, 446, 456)
Palmer, E.H. (1881). The Survey of Western Palestine: Arabic and English Name Lists Collected During the Survey by Lieutenants Conder and Kitchener, R. E. Transliterated and Explained by E.H. Palmer. Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund.
Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. 2. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.
Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. 3. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.
Socin, A. (1879). "Alphabetisches Verzeichniss von Ortschaften des Paschalik Jerusalem". Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins. 2: 135–163.

External links[]

Welcome To Bayt 'Affa
Survey of Western Palestine, Map 20: IAA, Wikimedia commons
Bayt 'Affa, Zochrot
Bayt 'Affa, from the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center

[1] Palmer, 1881, p. 365

[2] Morris, 2004, p. xix, village #303. Morris gives both cause and date for depopulation as "Not known"

[Hadawi45-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 45

[1945p31-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b Department of Statistics, 1945, p. 31 Archived 2020-04-14 at the Wayback Machine

[Khalidi86-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Khalidi, 1992, p. 86

[Hutteroth144-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 144

[7] Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, Appendix 2, p. 118

[8] Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 2, p. 369

[9] Guérin, 1869, p. 126

[10] Socin, 1879, p. 145

[11] Hartmann, 1883, p. 133 also noted 37 houses

[12] Conder and Kitchener, 1883, SWP III, p. 259, Quoted in Khalidi, 1992, p. 86

[1922Census-13] Barron, 1923, Table V, Sub-district of Gaza, p. 9

[Census1931-14] Mills, 1932, p. 2

[15] Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 86

[16] Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 136

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show v t Palestinian Arab towns and villages depopulated during the 1948 Palestinian exodus by subdistrict
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Beisan Subdistrict	Arab al-'Arida Arab al-Bawati Arab al-Safa al-Ashrafiyya al-Bira Beisan Danna Farwana al-Fatur al-Ghazzawiyya al-Hamidiyya al-Hamra Jabbul Kafra Kawkab al-Hawa al-Khunayzir Masil al-Jizl al-Murassas Qumya al-Sakhina al-Samiriyya Sirin Tall al-Shawk al-Taqa al-Tira Umm 'Ajra Khirbat Umm Sabuna Yubla Zab'a al-Zawiya
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Gaza Subdistrict	Arab Suqrir Barbara Barqa al-Batani al-Gharbi al-Batani al-Sharqi Bayt 'Affa Bayt Daras Bayt Jirja Bayt Tima Bil'in Burayr Dayr Sunayd Dimra al-Faluja Hamama Hatta Hiribya Huj Hulayqat Ibdis Iraq al-Manshiyya Iraq Suwaydan Isdud al-Jaladiyya al-Jiyya Julis al-Jura Jusayr Karatiyya Kawfakha Kawkaba al-Khisas al-Masmiyya al-Kabira al-Masmiyya al-Saghira al-Muharraqa Najd Ni'ilya Qastina al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya al-Sawafir al-Shamaliyya al-Sawafir al-Sharqiyya Simsim Summil Tall al-Turmus Yasur
Haifa Subdistrict	Abu Shusha Abu Zurayq Arab al-Fuqara Arab al-Nufay'at Arab Zahrat al-Dumayri 'Atlit Ayn Ghazal Ayn Hawd Balad al-Sheikh Barrat Qisarya Burayka al-Burj al-Butaymat Daliyat al-Rawha' al-Dumun al-Ghubayya al-Fawqa al-Ghubayya al-Tahta Hawsha Ijzim Jaba' al-Jalama Kabara al-Kafrayn Kafr Lam al-Kasayir Khubbayza Lid al-Manara al-Mansi al-Mansura al-Mazar Naghnaghiya Qannir Qira Qisarya Qumbaza al-Rihaniyya Sabbarin al-Sarafand Khirbat al-Sarkas Khirbat Sa'sa' al-Sawamir Khirbat al-Shuna al-Sindiyana al-Tantura al-Tira Umm ash Shauf Umm az-Zinat Wa'arat al-Sarris Wadi Ara Yajur
Hebron Subdistrict	'Ajjur Barqusya Bayt Jibrin Bayt Nattif al-Dawayima Deir al-Dubban Dayr Nakhkhas Kudna Mughallis al-Qubayba Ra'na Tell es-Safi Umm Burj az-Zakariyya Zayta Zikrin
Jaffa Subdistrict	al-'Abbasiyya Abu Kabir Abu Kishk Bayt Dajan Biyar 'Adas Fajja al-Haram Ijlil al-Qibliyya Ijlil al-Shamaliyya al-Jammasin al-Gharbi al-Jammasin al-Sharqi Jarisha Kafr 'Ana al-Khayriyya al-Mas'udiyya al-Mirr al-Muwaylih Rantiya al-Safiriyya Salama Saqiya al-Sawalima al-Shaykh Muwannis Yazur
Jenin Subdistrict	al-Jawfa al-Mazar Ayn al-Mansi Lajjun Nuris Zir'in
Jerusalem Subdistrict	Allar Aqqur Artuf Bayt 'Itab Bayt Mahsir Bayt Naqquba Bayt Thul Bayt Umm al-Mays al-Burayj Dayr Aban Dayr 'Amr Dayr al-Hawa Dayr Rafat Dayr al-Shaykh Deir Yassin Ayn Karim Ishwa Islin Ism Allah Jarash al-Jura Kasla al-Lawz Lifta al-Maliha Nitaf al-Qabu Qalunya al-Qastal Ras Abu 'Ammar Sar'a Saris Sataf Sheikh Badr Suba Sufla al-Tannur al-'Umur al-Walaja
Nazareth Subdistrict	al-Mujaydil Indur Ma'alul Saffuriyya
Ramle Subdistrict	Abu al-Fadl Abu Shusha Ajanjul Aqir Barfiliya al-Barriyya Bashshit Bayt Far Bayt Jiz Bayt Nabala Bayt Shanna Bayt Susin Bir Ma'in Bir Salim al-Burj al-Buwayra Daniyal Dayr Abu Salama Dayr Ayyub Dayr Muhaysin Dayr Tarif al-Duhayriyya al-Haditha Idnibba Innaba Jilya Jimzu Kharruba al-Khayma Khulda al-Kunayyisa al-Latrun Lydda al-Maghar Majdal Yaba al-Mansura al-Mukhayzin al-Muzayri'a al-Na'ani al-Nabi Rubin Qatra Qazaza al-Qubab al-Qubayba Qula Ramla Sajad Salbit Sarafand al-Amar Sarafand al-Kharab Saydun Shahma Shilta al-Tina al-Tira Umm Kalkha Wadi Hunayn Yibna Khirbat Zakariyya Zarnuqa
Safad Subdistrict	Abil al-Qamh al-'Abisiyya 'Akbara Alma Ammuqa Arab al-Shamalina Arab al-Zubayd Ayn al-Zaytun Baysamun Biriyya al-Butayha al-Buwayziyya Dallata al-Dawwara Dayshum al-Dirbashiyya al-Dirdara Fara al-Farradiyya Fir'im Ghabbatiyya Ghuraba al-Hamra' Harrawi Hunin al-Husayniyya Jahula al-Ja'una Jubb Yusuf Kafr Bir'im al-Khalisa Khan al-Duwayr Khirbat Karraza al-Khisas Khiyam al-Walid Kirad al-Baqqara Kirad al-Ghannama Lazzaza Madahil Al-Malkiyya Mallaha al-Manshiyya al-Mansura Mansurat al-Khayt Marus Meiron al-Muftakhira Mughr al-Khayt al-Muntar al-Nabi Yusha' al-Na'ima Qabba'a Qadas Qaddita Qaytiyya al-Qudayriyya al-Ras al-Ahmar Sabalan Safsaf Saliha al-Salihiyya al-Sammu'i al-Sanbariyya Sa'sa' al-Shawka al-Tahta al-Shuna Taytaba Tulayl al-'Ulmaniyya al-'Urayfiyya al-Wayziyya Yarda, Safad al-Zahiriyya al-Tahta al-Zanghariyya Zawiya al-Zuq al-Fawqani al-Zuq al-Tahtani
Tiberias Subdistrict	Awlam al-Dalhamiyya Ghuwayr Abu Shusha Hadatha al-Hamma Hittin Kafr Sabt Lubya Ma'dhar al-Majdal al-Manara al-Manshiyya al-Mansura Nasir al-Din Nimrin al-Nuqayb Samakh al-Samakiyya al-Samra al-Shajara al-Tabigha al-'Ubaydiyya Wadi Hamam Khirbat al-Wa'ra al-Sawda' Yaquq
Tulkarm Subdistrict	Khirbat Bayt Lid Bayyarat Hannun Fardisya Ghabat Kafr Sur al-Jalama Kafr Saba al-Majdal al-Manshiyya Miska Qaqun Raml Zayta Tabsur Umm Khalid Wadi al-Hawarith Wadi Qabbani al-Zabadida Khirbat Zalafa

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Bayt 'Affa بيت عفا
Etymology: The house of Affeh (or chaste)^[1]
1870s map 1940s map modern map 1940s with modern overlay mapShow all A series of historical maps of the area around Bayt 'Affa (click the buttons)
Bayt 'Affa Location within Mandatory Palestine
Coordinates: 31°39′41″N 34°42′24″E / 31.66139°N 34.70667°E / 31.66139; 34.70667Coordinates: 31°39′41″N 34°42′24″E / 31.66139°N 34.70667°E / 31.66139; 34.70667
Palestine grid	122/118
Geopolitical entity	Mandatory Palestine
Subdistrict	Gaza
Date of depopulation	Not known^[2]
Area ^[3]
• Total	5,808 dunams (5.808 km² or 2.242 sq mi)
Population (1945)
• Total	700^[4]^[3]