Battle of Nitzanim

Battle of Nitzanim
Part of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War
Nitzanim after the Egyptian bombardment.
Date June 6–10, 1948 Location Nitzanim, Mandatory Palestine 31°43′3″N 34°38′8″E / 31.71750°N 34.63556°E / 31.71750; 34.63556 Result Egyptian victory
Belligerents
Israel	Egypt
Commanders and leaders
Avraham Schwarzstein[1] Yitzhak Pundak (53rd Battalion) Shimon Avidan (Givati Brigade)	Ahmed Ali al-Mwawi Muhammad Naguib
Strength
74 soldiers 67 local paramilitaries 1 mortar 1 infantry company (Hill 69)	1 reinforced infantry battalion 1 armoured platoon 18 field guns 12 anti-tank guns
Casualties and losses
33 killed 26 wounded 105 captured 20 killed (on Hill 69)	Unknown
Battle of Nitzanim class=notpageimage| Location within Mandatory Palestine

The Battle of Nitzanim was fought between the Israel Defense Forces and the Egyptian Army in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, on June 7, 1948 (29 Iyar, 5708 in the Hebrew calendar). It was the first major Egyptian victory of the war, and one of the few cases of Israeli surrender.

The battle began on the night of June 6–7 with an artillery bombardment of Nitzanim, followed by an aerial bombardment and armored and infantry attacks. The main attack broke through the Israeli defenses at around 11:00; the Israelis retreated to a second position, and finally to a third position at 14:00. At 16:00, 105 Israelis surrendered to the Egyptian Army. Between June 7 and 10, the Battle of Hill 69 was fought nearby. The hill was captured by the Egyptians after a disorganized Israeli retreat.

Israelis viewed the surrender of Nitzanim as a humiliation, especially after the Givati Brigade published a leaflet denouncing the defenders. The residents of Nitzanim demanded a probe into the battle, and one was conducted by the General Staff, siding with the residents and coming to the conclusion that surrender was justified.