Simsim

Simsim was situated on a flat expanse of land in the southern coastal plain, surrounded by hills. Wadi Simsim ran along its southern edge. The village lay between the main coastal highway and a parallel road connecting Gaza to Julis, and was linked to both via secondary roads, as well as to neighboring villages. During the Crusader period, the village was referred to as “Simsim”.

In 1596, Simsim was listed as a village in the nahiya (subdistrict) of Gaza in the Gaza district, with a population of 110. It paid taxes on wheat, barley, fruits, goats, and beehives.

By the late 19th century, Simsim was surrounded by gardens and featured a well, a pool, and an olive grove to its north. It was also the birthplace of Sheikh Suleiman Abdul Qadir (Abu Ali), a prominent leader in the 1936 revolt against British rule.

The village had a circular layout, with narrow straight streets radiating outward from the center, intersected by semi-circular roads. The village was composed of neighborhoods, the largest of which was the northern quarter, which was separated from the others and connected to neighboring villages via multiple roads. These roads functioned as axes along which the village expanded. At the convergence of these axes—the village center—stood the mosque and a school, which was established in 1934 and later shared with the nearby village of Najd in 1947. By the mid-1940s, the school had an enrollment of 150 students.

The population was entirely Muslim, and the houses were constructed of adobe (mud bricks). Agriculture was the primary source of livelihood. By the end of the British Mandate period, the villagers cultivated grains, vegetables, and fruit, including citrus on 240 dunums. Agriculture was rainfed and supplemented by irrigation from wells that were 35 to 40 meters deep. The village was encircled by fruit trees and gardens, with the majority of orchards concentrated in the southwestern lands, which benefited from seasonal runoff from nearby valleys.

In 1944–1945, the total land use included:

• 240 dunums for citrus and bananas,
• 12,086 dunums for grains,
• 250 dunums irrigated or used for orchards.

Simsim also contained an archaeological mound known as al-Ras (site no. 112108), and was surrounded by three other ancient sites, including a Roman-era cemetery now referred to as Sha‘fat al-Mufur, where rock-hewn tombs were found.

Occupation and Ethnic Cleansing of the Village

The Negev Brigade of the Palmach occupied Simsim during one of its northward offensives, shortly before 15 May 1948, and expelled its inhabitants. According to Israeli historian Benny Morris, this occurred shortly after the occupation of Burayr on 12–13 May. However, another source contradicts this timeline: The New York Times reported that Simsim was occupied two months later, during the Ten Days between the two truces, just prior to 11 July. This report is considered unreliable, as it claims that Simsim was captured simultaneously with al-Majdal and Latrun, which are geographically distant and unlikely to have been occupied at the same time.

The Village Today

The village was completely destroyed, and its remains are difficult to distinguish except for a few cypress and sycamore trees that still stand. A pile of stones, possibly the ruins of a former building, is also visible. The site is currently fenced off and used as pastureland for livestock, while the surrounding lands are cultivated by Israeli farmers.

Zionist Settlements on Village Lands

The settlement of Giv’at Shaul (also known as Gevar’am) was established in 1942 on lands that had traditionally belonged to Simsim. Another settlement, Or HaNer, was founded in 1957, less than one kilometer south of the village site, on lands that belonged to the village of Najd.