The Deir Yassin massacre was led by Menachem Begin in his capacity as head of the Irgun terrorist militia, which was also responsible for several acts of terror, including the blowing up of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. Supporting the Irgun was the Haganah, a group that went on to form the basis for the Israeli army, and the Lehi, led by Yitzhak Shamir.

Deir Yassin was a peaceful village whose less than 1,000 residents lived quite a relaxed life, with a degree of economic prosperity. The village was famous for its limestone-cutting business. But all that peaceful life was turned upside down after the massacre, in which 250 and 350 local Palestinian residents were massacred. The majority of the victims of the massacre were women, children, and the elderly.

After being taken prisoner, many villagers were paraded through Jerusalem’s Old City by the militias in order to widely publicize their “victory” in Deir Yassin. In several other Palestinian villages, Nakba survivors reportedly fled after hearing about the massacre in Deir Yassin, fearing similar violence.

Others who survived, fearful and terrified, left their homes and properties to seek shelter elsewhere. They became just another number in the still ongoing uprooting of Palestinians from their homes. No one has ever been held accountable for the Deir Yassin massacre.

The Deir Yassin massacre was a turning point in the Palestine-Zionist gangs conflict, as it caused a great deal of outrage among the Muslim population, leading to an increase in the number of volunteers who joined the fighting against the zionist forces.

It also had a significant impact on the attitudes of the international community towards the conflict and the zionist movement.

Hamas: Our people will never forget Deir Yassin massacre

Meanwhile, Palestine Islamic Movement (Hamas) issued a statement on the occasion of the 75^th anniversary of the massacre.

“Palestinian people’s undying memory will keep remembering the Deir Yassin massacre — the heinous crime that has revealed the fact that this [Israeli] entity was founded on committing massacres,” Hamas said.

“The anniversary of this massacre has come while the occupation state continues to practice the worst forms of crime and terrorism against our land, people, prisoners, and holy sites, in the midst of international silence and passivity,” Hamas underlined.

The Movement stressed the need for serious and effective international action to criminalize israel’s violations, prosecute its leaders for their “imprescriptible” crimes and enable the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights.

The Movement underlined that the Palestinian people would continue their struggle and resistance across the occupied territories until they wrest their rights and liberate their land and holy sites.

It added that long decades of Israeli massacres would never succeed in preventing the Palestinian people from upholding their land and defending Jerusalem and the Aqsa Mosque.  (ILKHA)