Bayt Jibrin

Bayt Jibrin was a historic Palestinian village located on flat land near fertile valleys, named after Wadi Bayt Jibrin. It was situated at a crossroads connecting major cities like Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Hebron. The village name is believed to be of Aramaic origin, meaning “house of the mighty.”

Bayt Jibrin has a deep historical significance, with roots in Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Crusader, and Ottoman eras. During Roman rule (2nd century CE), it became a colony named Eleutheropolis, receiving a large land area and achieving urban status. It remained significant in the Byzantine period and was conquered by Muslims during the caliphate of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq.

The Crusaders later built a fortress there, which was captured by Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi. The village prospered under the Mamluks and Ottomans, becoming a major trade and administrative center. In the late Ottoman period, it had a population of 29 households, taxed on wheat, barley, olives, and livestock.

By the British Mandate era, Bayt Jibrin had developed modern infrastructure, including a school, clinic, police station, and a weekly market that attracted people from nearby villages. Its population was over 1,000 by the 20th century. In 1944–45, 20,000 dunums were used for grain farming and 1,500 dunums for orchards. Archaeologists later uncovered 4th-century churches, tombs, and Roman structures in the area.

1948 Occupation and Ethnic Cleansing

Bayt Jibrin was captured during Operation Yoav in October 1948. The village, located near the front lines between Israeli and Egyptian forces, was heavily bombarded and attacked. Most residents were displaced—many fled to nearby caves. The Israeli military viewed its capture as strategically important for controlling the southern front.

Israeli forces conducted airstrikes and ground assaults, resulting in the village’s depopulation. Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion noted the destruction of homes but expressed reluctance about complete demolition. Historian Benny Morris described the events as part of a broader policy of forced expulsion and village destruction.

Current Status                                      

Today, only remnants of Bayt Jibrin remain: a mosque, an unidentified shrine, and a few stone buildings. Some structures have been abandoned or repurposed—one was converted into an Israeli-owned restaurant. The village site is overgrown with vegetation and is now visited by tourists and archaeologists. Modern Israeli housing developments exist nearby.

Israeli Settlements

New Israeli settlements have been established north of the original village site on lands historically belonging to Bayt Jibrin.