Back مذبحة كفر قاسم Arabic Клане в Кафр Касем Bulgarian Massaker von Kafr Qasim German Σφαγή του Καφρ Κασίμ Greek Masakro de Kafr Kassem Esperanto Masacre de Kafr Qasim Spanish کشتار کفرقاسم Persian Kafr Qasimin verilöyly Finnish Massacre de Kafr Qassem French טבח כפר קאסם HE
| Kafr Qasim massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Suez Crisis | |
 Memorial at Kafr Qasim | |
| Location | Kafr Qasim, Israel |
| Date | October 29, 1956 |
| Target | Arab villagers |
Attack type | Massacre |
| Deaths | 49 (including an unborn child) |
| Perpetrators | Israel Border Police |
The Kafr Qasim massacre took place in the Israeli Arab village of Kafr Qasim situated on the Green Line, at that time, the de facto border between Israel and the Jordanian West Bank on October 29, 1956. It was carried out by the Israel Border Police (Magav), who killed Arab civilians returning from work during a curfew of which they were unaware, imposed earlier in the day on the eve of the Sinai War.[1] In total 48 people died, of whom 19 were men, 6 were women and 23 were children aged 8–17. Arab sources usually give the death toll as 49, as they include the unborn child of one of the women.[2]
The border policemen who were involved in the shooting were brought to trial and found guilty and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 7 to 17 years.[3] The brigade commander was sentenced to pay the symbolic fine of 10 prutot (old Israeli cents).[4] The Israeli court found that the command to kill civilians was "blatantly illegal". However, all of the sentences were later reduced, with some of those convicted receiving presidential pardons. All of those convicted had been released by November 1959.[5]
One of those convicted, Gabriel Dahan, was later placed in charge of "Arab Affairs" by the city of Ramla.[6]
Issachar (Yissachar) "Yiska" Shadmi—the highest-ranking official prosecuted for the massacre—stated, shortly before his death, that he believed that his trial was staged to protect members of the Israeli political and military elite, including Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, from taking responsibility for the massacre. The purpose was to portray the perpetrators as a group of rogue soldiers, rather than people acting under higher orders.[7]
In December 2007, President of Israel Shimon Peres formally apologised for the massacre.[8] In October 2021, a Joint List bill to have the massacre officially recognized was turned down in the Knesset.[9]
- ^ Lucas, Noah (1975). The Modern History of Israel. New York, New York: Praeger Publishers. p. 356. ISBN 0-275-33450-3.
- ^ Bilsky, p. 310.
- ^ "48 human beings were massacred – and we have forgotten them". November 3, 2013.
- ^ "President Peres apologizes for Kafr Qasem massacre of 1956". Haaretz. Dec 21, 2007. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
- ^ Ronnie May Olesker, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University). International Law and Organization. The value of security vs. the security of values: The relationship between the rights of the minority and the security of the majority in Israel. 2007. p. 318.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
haawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ President Peres apologizes for Kafr Qasem massacre of 1956 Archived 2009-08-05 at the Wayback Machine Haaretz, 21 December 2007
- ^ Noa Shpigel, 'Israel Shoots Down Bill to Officially Recognize 1956 Massacre of Arab Citizens ,' Archived 2021-10-27 at the Wayback Machine Haaretz 27 October 2021.
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