List of killings and massacres in Mandatory Palestine


This is a list of killings and massacres committed in Mandatory Palestine. It is restricted to incidents in which at least three people were deliberately killed. This list does not include unlawful deaths due to criminal activity. It includes all casualties that resulted from the initial attack on civilians or non-combat military personnel.
Note: The designation "responsible party" below refers to those believed to be the principle instigators of the violence. Where culpability is disputed or ambiguous, the sources cited support the chosen designation.
Individual massacres during the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine are listed below. In total, during the course of these events, between September 27, 1937 – 1939, 5,000 Arabs, 415 Jews and several hundred Britons were killed.

List of killings and massacres committed in Mandate Palestine

NameDateResponsible partyFatalitiesnotes
Battle of Tel HaiMarch 1, 1920Arabs138 Jews killed; 5 Arabs killed.
Nebi Musa riotsApril 4–7, 1920Arabs95 Jews, 4 Arabs killed; 216 Jews, 18 Arabs, 7 Britons wounded
Jaffa riotsMay 1–7, 1921Arabs9548 Arabs, 47 Jews killed; 140 Jews, 73 Arabs wounded.
NANovember 2, 1921Arabs55 Jews killed in Jerusalem in stabbing attack. Multiple wounded, including women and children.
Palestine RiotsAugust 23–29, 1929Arabs249133 Jews, 116 Arabs killed; 339 Jews, 232 Arabs wounded; includes the Hebron massacre and the Safed massacre
1933 Palestine riotsOctober 28, 1933British forces20
1936 Anabta shootingApril 15, 1936Arabs22 Jews killed, 1 shot but survived in road block with Jewish drivers selected out and shot
The Bloody Day in Jaffa April 19–20, 1936Arabs219 Jews killed, 40 Jews wounded in Arab attack in Jaffa. Police killed two attackers. Further 7 Jews and 3 Arabs killed the next day
Labor Strike RevoltApril 20 – October 12, 1936Arabs, Jews, British authorities314197 Arabs killed and 823 wounded, 80 Jews killed and 300 wounded, 37 military and police killed and 95 wounded.
NAAugust 13, 1937Arabs44 members of a Jewish family, 3 children, shot dead by Arabs who broke into their home in Safed
NANovember 9, 1937Arabs55 Jewish Keren Kayemet workers killed near Har Haruach by an Arab ambush. Ma'ale HaHamisha was named in their honor.
N/ANovember 14, 1937Jewish militants 1010 Arabs killed by Irgun units launching attacks around Jerusalem,
N/AMarch 28, 1938Arabs66 Jewish passengers killed by Arabs while traveling from Haifa to Safed.
N/AApril 12, 1938Jewish militants 42 Arabs and 2 British policemen were killed by a bomb in a train in Haifa.
N/AMay 24, 1938Jewish militants 33 Arabs were shot and killed in Haifa.
N/AJune 26, 1938Jewish militants 77 Arabs were killed by a bomb in Jaffa.
N/AJune, 1938Jewish militants ?Unknown number of Arabs killed by a bomb that was thrown into a crowded Arab market place in Jerusalem.
N/AJuly 5, 1938Jewish militants 77 Arabs were killed in several shooting attacks in Tel-Aviv.
N/AJuly 5, 1938Jewish militants 33 Arabs were killed by a bomb detonated in a bus in Jerusalem. Further Arab killed in another attack in Jerusalem
N/AJuly 6, 1938Jewish militants 2318 Arabs and 5 Jews were killed by two simultaneous bombs in the Arab melon market in Haifa. More than 60 people were wounded.
N/AJuly 8, 1938Jewish militants 44 Arabs were killed by a bomb in Jerusalem.
N/AJuly 16, 1938Jewish militants 1010 Arabs were killed by a bomb at a marketplace in Jerusalem.
N/AJuly 25, 1938Jewish militants 4343 Arabs were killed by a bomb at a marketplace in Haifa.
N/AAugust 16, 1938Arabs3A Jewish family was kidnapped by Arabs in Atlit. 3 killed.
N/AAugust 26, 1938Jewish militants 2424 Arabs were killed by a bomb at a marketplace in Jaffa.
N/ASeptember 14, 1938Arabs33 Jews killed in a bomb attack and ambush on a private vehicle near Nir David then: Tel Amal Several attackers killed by Britons.
1938 Tiberias pogromOctober 2, 1938Arabs1919 Jews were killed.
N/AFebruary 27, 1939Jewish militants 3333 Arabs were killed in multiple attacks, incl. 24 by bomb in Arab market in Suk Quarter of Haifa and 4 by bomb in Arab vegetable market in Jerusalem.
N/AMay 29, 1939Jewish militants 55 Arabs were killed by a mine detonated at the Rex cinema in Jerusalem.
N/AMay 29, 1939Jewish militants 55 Arabs were shot and killed during a raid on the village of Biyar 'Adas.
N/AJune 2, 1939Jewish militants 55 Arabs were killed by a bomb at the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem.
N/AJune 16, 1939Jewish Militants 66 Arabs were killed in several attacks in Jerusalem.
N/AJune 19, 1939Jewish Militants 2020 Arabs were killed by explosives mounted on a donkey at a marketplace in Haifa.
N/AJune 29, 1939Jewish Militants 1313 Arabs were killed in several shooting attacks around Jaffa during a one-hour period.
N/AJuly 20, 1939Jewish Militants 66 Arabs were killed in several attacks in Tel-Aviv.
N/AJuly 20, 1939Jewish Militants 33 Arabs were killed in Rehovot.
NAJune 11, 1941Italian Air Force2020 Jews killed in Tel Aviv during Italian air raid
N/ASeptember 27, 1944Jewish militants 0Unknown number of casualties, around 150 Irgun members attacked four British police stations
N/ANovember 1, 1945Jewish militants 05 locomotives destroyed in Lydda station. Two staff, one soldier and one policeman killed.
N/ADecember 27, 1945Jewish militants 73 British policemen and 4 Basuto soldiers killed during the bombing of British CID headquarters in Jerusalem; 1 British soldier killed during attack of British army camp in north Tel Aviv
King David Hotel bombingJuly 22, 1946Jewish militants 9191 killed, including 41 Arabs, 28 Britons, and 17 Jews; 40-45 wounded
N/AJanuary 12, 1947Jewish militants 44 killed in bombing of British headquarters.
N/AMarch 1, 1947Jewish militants 1717 British officers killed, during raid and explosion.
N/ASeptember 26, 1947Jewish militants 44 British policemen killed in Irgun bank robbery.
N/ASeptember 29, 1947Jewish militants 1313 killed, 53 wounded in attack on British police station.
1947 Jerusalem riotsDecember 2, 1947Arabs148 Jews Reported Killed
al-TiraDecember 12, 1947Jewish militants1313 Arabs killed, 10 wounded
N/ADecember 12, 1947Jewish militants 2020 killed, 5 wounded by barrel bomb at Damascus Gate.
N/ADecember 13, 1947Jewish militants 1616 Arabs killed; 67 Arabs wounded from bombings in Jerusalem and Jaffa; Irgun also burns down 100 Arab homes in Jaffa
N/ADecember 16, 1947Jewish militants 1010 killed by bomb at Noga Cinema in Jaffa.
al-Khisas massacreDecember 18, 1947Jewish militants 1010 Arabs killed
N/ADecember 24, 1947Arab snipers, Jewish militants84 Jews killed in Haifa by snipers, 4 Arabs killed in reprisals
N/ADecember 26, 1947Arab militants77 Jews killed while driving in convoy to Jerusalem
N/ADecember 28, 1947Arab Snipers, Jewish militants55 Jews killed in Bab el Wad by snipers, 5 Arabs killed in reprisals
N/ADecember 29, 1947Arab militants, Jewish militants 44 Jews killed in Tel Aviv from mortar and sniper fire, 13 Arabs killed in Jerusalem in Irgun bombing
Bomb thrown on Damascus Gate Café in JerusalemDecember 29, 1947Jewish militants 1311 Arabs, 2 Britons killed Uri Milstein reported 15 casualties from the bombing in the Palestine Post.
Haifa Oil Refinery massacreDecember 30, 1947Jewish militants, Arabs39Arabs beat 39 Jews to death and injured 49 after an Irgun bombing which killed 6
Balad al-Shaykh massacreJanuary 1, 1948Jewish militants 5017–70 Arabs killed in Haifa
N/AJanuary 3, 1948Arab militants43 Jews, 1 Briton killed in Jerusalem
Bombing of Arab National Committee HQJanuary 4, 1948Jewish militants 1414 Arabs killed; 100 Arabs wounded
Semiramis Hotel bombingJanuary 5, 1948Jewish militants 2020 Arabs killed in Jerusalem
N/AJanuary 5, 1948Jewish militants 1414 Arabs killed and 19 injured by truck bomb outside the 3-storey 'Serrani', Jaffa's built Ottoman Town Hall
N/AJanuary 5, 1948Arabs, Jews44 Arabs killed after attacking Jewish quarter in Safed
Jaffa Gate bombing in JerusalemJanuary 7, 1948Jewish militants 1815–20 Arabs killed
N/AJanuary 9, 1948Arab militants3535 Jews killed near Kfar Etzion
N/AJanuary 10, 1948Arab militants1111 Jews killed, 1 decapitated near Yavne
N/AJanuary 14, 1948Arab militants77 Jews, 2 Britons killed in Haifa
The 35 Heroes of Gush Etzion January 15, 1948Arab militants3535 Jewish members of a relief force to Gush Etzion killed near Hebron by Arab militants.
N/AJanuary 20, 1948Arab militants88 Jews killed in Yehiam
N/AJanuary 22, 1948Arab militants77 Jews killed near Yazur
N/AJanuary 25, 1948Arab militants1010 Jews killed
N/AJanuary 27, 1948British soldiers44 Arabs killed in Gaza
N/AFebruary 3, 1948Arab militants66 Jews killed while riding buses in Haifa
N/AFebruary 7, 1948Arabs, Jews63 Arabs, 3 Jews killed in Haifa
N/AFebruary 8, 1948Arabs66 Jews killed in Jerusalem
N/AFebruary 8, 1948Arab militants33 Jews killed in Tel Aviv
N/AFebruary 10, 1948Jewish militants 77 Arabs killed near Ras el Ain after selling cows in Tel Aviv
N/AFebruary 12, 1948Arabs44 Jews killed in Jerusalem
N/AFebruary 15, 1948Arab militants, Jewish militants85 Arabs, 3 Jews killed
Sa'sa' village ambush in the Safad districtFebruary 14, 1948Jewish militants 1111 Arabs killed
N/AFebruary 17, 1948Arab militants, Jewish militants85 Arabs, 3 Jews killed
N/AFebruary 17, 1948Arab militants5757 Arabs killed while taking part in attack on Jewish settlements Tirat Tzvi, Sde Eliahu, Ein HaNatziv
Ramla vegetable market bombingFebruary 18, 1948Jewish militants 1212 killed, 43 wounded
N/AFebruary 19, 1948Arab militants44 Jews killed while riding buses in Haifa
N/AFebruary 21, 1948Jewish militants44 Arabs killed in Haifa
Ben Yehuda Street bombingFebruary 22, 1948Arab militants, British deserters5555 Jews killed
N/AFebruary 25, 1948Arab militants33 Jews killed on road between Ramle and Tel Aviv
N/AFebruary 28, 1948Arab militants76 Arabs, 1 Jew killed during attack on Jewish village Kfar Sava
N/AFebruary 18, 1948Arab militants44 Arabs killed while participating in attack on Jewish settlement Mitzpe
Rehovot Train bombingMarch 1, 1948Jewish militants2828 Britons killed
Bevingrad Officers Club bombingMarch 1, 1948Jewish militants 2020 Britons killed; 30 Britons wounded
N/AMarch 1, 1948Arab militants44 Jews killed on Tel Aviv-Jerusalem road
N/AMarch 2, 1948Arab militants96 Arabs, 3 Jews killed during Arab attack on Tel-Aviv Jerusalem road
N/AMarch 4, 1948Arab militants1616 Jews killed on Jerusalem-Atarot road
N/AMarch 9, 1948Arab militants33 Arabs killed while participating in attack on Jewish settlement Yehiam
N/AMarch 11, 1948Jews, Arabs54 Arabs, 1 Jew killed in Tiberias
Jewish Agency bombingMarch 11, 1948Arab militants1313 Jews killed
N/AMarch 14, 1948Arab militants77 Jews killed near Faluja
N/AMarch 14, 1948Jews, Arabs54 Arabs, 1 Jew killed in Tiberias
N/AMarch 18, 1948Arab militants95 Britons, 4 Jews killed in convoy near Acre
N/AMarch 20, 1948Arabs77 Jews killed at Ein Harod
N/AMarch 21, 1948Arabs66 Jews killed on Rosh Pinna-Safed road
N/AMarch 22, 1948Arab militants244 Jews, 20 Arabs during attack on Jewish settlement Nitzanim
N/AMarch 24, 1948Jewish militants3636 Arabs killed near Tulkarem
N/AMarch 26, 1948Arab militants86 Arabs, 2 Jews killed in attack on Jewish convoy near Gaza
N/AMarch 28, 1948Arab militants66 Arabs killed while participating in attack on Jewish convoy near Rehovot
N/AMarch 28, 1948Arab militants66 Arabs killed while participating in attack on Jewish convoy near Safed
Cairo-Haifa train bombingMarch 31, 1948Jewish militants 4040 Arabs killed; 60 Arabs wounded
Massacre in an orange grove in LyddaApril 1, 1948Jewish militias1111 Arab laborers killed
Deir Yassin massacreApril 9, 1948Jewish militants 100-250100-254 Arabs killed
Hadassah medical convoy massacreApril 13, 1948Arab militants7878 Jews killed
Ein al Zeitun massacreMay 3, 1948Jewish militants 5537–70 Arab prisoners
Kfar Etzion massacreMay 13, 1948Arab militants and Arab Legion140127–157 Jews killed
Abu ShushaMay 14, 1948Israeli5252 Arabs killed