Al-Jura

al-Jura

الجورة
al-Jura الجورة
	Part of the former village site, in 2015
	Etymology: the Hollow
	1870s map 1940s map modern map 1940s with modern overlay map A series of historical maps of the area around Al-Jura (click the buttons)
	al-Jura Location within the Mandatory Palestine
	Coordinates: 31°39′57″N 34°33′17″E / 31.66583°N 34.55472°E
Palestine grid	107/119
Geopolitical entity	Mandatory Palestine
Subdistrict	Gaza
Date of depopulation	November 4–5, 1948
Area
• Total	12,224 dunams (12.224 km2 or 4.720 sq mi)
Population (1945)
• Total	2,420
Cause(s) of depopulation	Military assault by Yishuv forces
Current Localities	Ashkelon

Al-Jura (Arabic: الجورة) was a Palestinian village that was depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, located immediately adjacent to the towns of Ashkelon and the ruins of ancient Ascalon. In 1945, the village had a population of approximately 2,420 mostly Muslim inhabitants. Though defended by the Egyptian Army, al-Jura was nevertheless captured by Israel's Givati Brigade in a November 4, 1948, offensive as part of Operation Yoav.

Its residents had their origins in Egypt, Hebron, and Bedouin communities.^[6]

The Shrine of Husayn's Head was located outside the town, until it was destroyed by the Israeli army in 1950.

The founder and spiritual leader of the Hamas militant organization Ahmed Yassin was born in al-Jura.

^ Palmer, 1881, p. 360
^ Department of Statistics, 1945, p. 31
^ ^a ^b Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 46
^ Morris, 2004, p. xix, village #307, Also gives the cause for depopulation
^ Khalidi, 1992, p. 117
^ Grossman, D. (1986). "Oscillations in the Rural Settlement of Samaria and Judaea in the Ottoman Period". in Shomron studies. Dar, S., Safrai, S., (eds). Tel Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad Publishing House. p. 383

[1] Palmer, 1881, p. 360

[DoS1945p31-2] Department of Statistics, 1945, p. 31

[Hadawi46-3] Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 46

[4] Morris, 2004, p. xix, village #307, Also gives the cause for depopulation

[Khalidi117-5] Khalidi, 1992, p. 117

[:02-6] Grossman, D. (1986). "Oscillations in the Rural Settlement of Samaria and Judaea in the Ottoman Period". in Shomron studies. Dar, S., Safrai, S., (eds). Tel Aviv: Hakibbutz Hameuchad Publishing House. p. 383

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al-Jura الجورة
Part of the former village site, in 2015
Etymology: the Hollow^[1]
1870s map 1940s map modern map 1940s with modern overlay map A series of historical maps of the area around Al-Jura (click the buttons)
al-Jura Location within the Mandatory Palestine
Coordinates: 31°39′57″N 34°33′17″E / 31.66583°N 34.55472°E / 31.66583; 34.55472
Palestine grid	107/119
Geopolitical entity	Mandatory Palestine
Subdistrict	Gaza
Date of depopulation	November 4–5, 1948^[4]
Area ^[3]
• Total	12,224 dunams (12.224 km² or 4.720 sq mi)
Population (1945)
• Total	2,420^[2]^[3]
Cause(s) of depopulation	Military assault by Yishuv forces
Current Localities	Ashkelon^[5]