Hawsha

Hawsha هوشة Husha, Khirbat Husha, Khǔrbet Hǔsheh
Remains of Hawsha in the winter of 2010
Etymology: Joshua[1] or Kh. Husheh; "The ruin of Husheh",[2]
1870s map 1940s map modern map 1940s with modern overlay map A series of historical maps of the area around Hawsha (click the buttons)
Hawsha Location within Mandatory Palestine
Coordinates: 32°47′36″N 35°08′41″E / 32.79333°N 35.14472°E / 32.79333; 35.14472
Palestine grid	163/244
Geopolitical entity	Mandatory Palestine
Subdistrict	Haifa
Date of depopulation	mid-April, 1948[3]
Area [4][5]
• Total	901 dunams (90.1 ha or 223 acres)
Population  (1945)[6]
• Total	400
Cause(s) of depopulation	Military assault by Yishuv forces

Hawsha (Arabic: هوشة, Hǔsheh, also Husha) was an Arab village established in 1880 by Maghrebi immigrants of Algerian origin, built on ruins of the ancient Jewish town Usha.^[7][8] The place is located 13 kilometers (8.1 mi) east of Haifa, about 100 meters (330 ft) above sea level.

During the late Roman period, Hawsha was the site of the ancient Jewish town of Usha, which was the seat of the Sanhedrin.^{[4][9][10][11]} Ruins on the site include ancient mosaics and tombs. The village had a Maqam (shrine) for Nabi Hushan.^[4]

In 1945, it had a population of 580 inhabitants, 400 of whom were Arab Muslims and 180 of whom were Jewish. The built-up area of the village was 50 dunums, and 717 dunums were used for agriculture. All but 7 dunums of public land were owned by Jews by this time.^[4]

Hawsha was depopulated during the 1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine on April 16, 1948, as part of the Battle of Ramat Yohanan.