22 mai 1948 - Battle of Gesher

Description:

The Battle of Gesher in May 1948 marked a critical conflict during the 1947-1949 Palestine war, following the ratification of UN Resolution 181 and the subsequent calls to arms by Arab forces. The battle featured a joint offensive by Iraqi and Jordanian forces aiming to capture the Israeli exclave of Naharayim and advance towards Afula to link with the Arab Liberation Army. This offensive began with the storming of Naharayim on May 14, 1948.

Gesher, strategically located at the confluence of the Jordan, Tabor, and Yarmouk rivers, became a focal point due to its proximity to key locations like Afula and Naharayim. The Arab forces involved included two infantry battalions, one armored battalion, and one artillery company. In response, the Israeli Golani Brigade, comprising two infantry battalions and supported later by two 65mm French cannons, mounted a defense.

The battle intensified on May 14 when Arab forces captured Naharayim and the bridge connecting Naharayim to Gesher was destroyed by the Golani Brigade to hinder further advances. Despite this, Arab forces managed to cross the river at a lower point and captured Camel Hill on May 16, laying siege to the nearby kibbutz. A series of attacks ensued, including a failed aerial assault by the Golani Brigade and several fierce but unsuccessful attempts by Arab forces to capture a police fort in Gesher.

The battle continued with multiple failed offensives by both sides until May 21-22, when Iraqi forces were repelled at Belvoir and Kochav Haryaden. Subsequently, the Iraqi troops withdrew to Naharayim and then toward the Sea of Galilee, ultimately relocating the majority of their forces to Nablus on the Samarian Front. The tactical Israeli victory at Gesher effectively halted the Arab advance toward Afula and contributed to the shifting dynamics of the broader conflict.

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