Explore Palestine's History.
Dassouqa Abdul Karim Ali Al-Kosab, originally from Barfiliya now resides in the Prince Hassan Refugee camp in Jordan.
Barfiliya was a Palestinian village east of Ramla, depopulated during the 1948 Nakba. It briefly served as a refuge for Palestinians fleeing Lydda, many of whom died from thirst during the difficult journey. Israeli forces captured the village on July 14, 1948, and it was later destroyed following an order by David Ben-Gurion. Like the rest of the 58 Palestinian villages in the Ramla district taken by Israel, Barfiliya was emptied of its inhabitants.
Explore Palestine's History.
To discover powerful firsthand accounts of Nakba survivors, click on the designated area of the map. Each pin reveals personal narratives and reflections, offering profound insights into this pivotal historical event.
Al-Ramla
On July 12th, 1948, al-Ramla was occupied and soon after, Jewish settlers took over the city. Initially, the properties of Christian and Muslim Palestinians were utilized to support the new settlers. While the old city center remains intact, a newer Ramla has been developed. The Israelis renamed the main street Herzl Street. On February 18th, 1948, a Zionist terrorist, disguised as an Arab, planted a bomb in one of al-Ramla's markets, resulting in the deaths of seven civilians and injuring 45 others, including many women and children. Following the city's occupation, the Zionists initially allowed inhabitants to remain but later broke their promise. Over 3,000 men were detained in a concentration camp, and looting of the city commenced. On July 14th, 1948, the city's inhabitants were forcibly expelled, resulting in the ethnic cleansing of the area. Of the 17,000 Palestinians who once called al-Ramla home, only 400 were permitted to stay. Before 1948, the district of al-Ramla encompassed approximately 62 villages, a significant portion of which experienced destruction, land confiscation, and forced expulsion of their populations. Subsequently, Jewish settlements were established on these confiscated lands. Among the well-known villages in the district were al-Lydd, al-Ramla, Deir Tarif, Bayt Nabala, Bayt Dajan, Bayt Jiz, al-Muzayri'a, and Dayr Abu Salama, among others. These villages were depopulated or destroyed during the Nakba. For example, al-Lydd, with a population of 18,250, saw the majority of its inhabitants—around 17,000—forcibly evicted from their homes on July 11, 1948. The town was renamed LOD, and today, many of the Palestinian houses are occupied by Jewish residents.
