Al-Samiriyya (Arabic: السامرية), was a Palestinian Arab village in the District of Baysan. It was depopulated by the Israel Defense Forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War on May 27, 1948, as part of Operation Gideon. It was located 7 km southeast of Baysan.
Al-Samiriyya
السامرية Samiriya, al-[1] | |
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Village | |
Etymology: Kh. es Sâmrîyeh, ruin of the Samaritans[2] | |
1870s map
1940s map
modern map
1940s with modern overlay map
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Al-Samiriyya Location within Mandatory Palestine | |
Coordinates: 32°26′15″N 35°29′14″E / 32.43750°N 35.48722°E | |
Palestine grid | 196/204 |
Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
Subdistrict | Baysan |
Date of depopulation | May 27, 1948[1] |
Area | |
• Total | 3,873 dunams (3.873 km2 or 1.495 sq mi) |
Population (1945) | |
• Total | 250[3][4] |
Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault by Yishuv forces |
Current Localities | Sdei Trumot[5] |
The village had a mosque and three Khirbas: Khirbat al-Humra, Tulul al-Thawm, and Tall al-Khab.[5]
In 1882, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine found at Khurbet es Samriyeh: "Ruined walls and traces of ruins alone remain. The place has, however, the appearance of an ancient site, and is well supplied with water."[6] Of Khurbet el Humra they noted: "A few walls standing and a ruined mill. No indications of antiquity exist",[7] while of Tellûl eth Thŭm they noted: "Artificial mounds; a stream of water to the north".[8]
In the 1922 census of Palestine, conducted by the Mandatory Palestine authorities, Samriyeh had a population of 162; all Muslims,[9] increasing in the 1931 census to 181 Muslims, in a total of 41 houses.[10]
In the 1945 statistics the village had a population of 250; 240 Muslims and 10 Christians,[3] with a total of 3,873 dunums of land.[4] Of this, 11 dunums were irrigated or used for plantation, 2,801 were for cereals,[11] while 22 dunams were built-up land.[12]
The village became depopulated in May, 1948, after the Arab inhabitants of Baysan had been expelled.[1][13][14]
In 1951 Sdei Trumot was established on village land, just north of the village site.[5]
In 1992 the village site was described: "Only collapsed roofs remain, they are located on the western edge of the Sdei Trumot settlement".[5]