Occupation date: Initially on 9th of July 1948, but the village exchanged lands several times with Egyptian and Sudanese
soldiers until the second half of October 1948. The village was completely obliterated. Bayt’Affa inhabitants were completely ethnically cleansed. Bayt’ Affa had a shrine for the Arab prophet (al-Nabi) Salih. The village had a khirba, which contained the remains of walls made of uncut stones, a well, and ancient columns. According to the Palestinian historian Walid Khalidi, the village remaining structures on the village land are: “There are no traces of village houses; only sycamore and carob trees and cactuses mark the site. “
Land ownership before occupation
| Ethnic Group | Land Ownership (Dunums) |
|---|---|
| Arab | 5,707 |
| Jewish | 0 |
| Public | 101 |
| Total | 5,808 |
Land usage in 1945
| Land Usage Type | Arab (Dunum |
|---|---|
| Irrigated & Plantation | 14 |
| Planted W/ Cereal | 5,657 |
| Built up | 26 |
| Cultivable | 5,671 |
| Non-Cultivable | 111 |
Population before occupation
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1596 | 143 |
| 1922 | 422 |
| 1931 | 462 |
| 1945 | 700 |
| 1948 | 812 |
| Est. Refugees 1998 | 4,987 |
Source: Palestineremembered.com
