A memorial ceremony marking 77 years since the fall of 51 Irgun fighters in the battle for Ramla during the War of Independence was held this evening (Tuesday).
Among those in attendance were Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Ramla Mayor Michael Vidal, Likud CEO Tzuri Siso, Chairman of the Irgun Veterans’ Association Shlomo Goldhor, CEO of the Irgun Fighters Association Itzik Simchon, and families of the fallen.
The Irgun Battles in Ramla
The Irgun’s battles in Ramla took place between May 16 and June 11, 1948. These were the largest-scale operations in the history of the Irgun—both in terms of manpower and the length of the fighting.
The battles began with the Irgun’s attempts to capture key positions in and around the city of Ramla. Most of these efforts were unsuccessful and ended after a few days. Nonetheless, Irgun forces remained in the area, and additional battles continued intermittently until the first ceasefire of the War of Independence.
“These Battles Will Be Remembered in the History of the Irgun and the State of Israel”
At the ceremony, Sa’ar said:
“These battles, led by Irgun fighters in the effort to capture Ramla, will be remembered as heroic in the annals of both the Irgun and the State of Israel. The fighters fought with inferior weaponry, with shortages in ammunition and anti-tank arms, against large, fortified enemy forces. Fifty-one Irgun fighters fell in the battles for Ramla between May 16 and June 11, during the War of Independence.”
Countless Acts of Bravery and Self-Sacrifice
“In terms of scale and duration, this was the largest military operation in the history of the Irgun, and correspondingly, it claimed the highest number of lives,” Sa’ar added.
“These battles were marked by countless acts of courage and dedication. The campaign for Ramla was waged under severely disadvantaged conditions for the Irgun.
Despite this, significant achievements were recorded—among them the capture of the Hassan Salameh headquarters building (which was later retaken by enemy forces). The Irgun suffered not only from a lack of arms and ammunition but also from being outnumbered.”
Their Legacy Is the Liberation of the Homeland
Sa’ar emphasized that the Irgun’s battles in Ramla were not only a key component in the liberation of the city, but also a powerful expression of the fighters’ unique spirit.
“These battles revealed the distinct character and deep belief of the Irgun fighters. Their memory is one of heroism and sacrifice. Their glory is eternal. Their legacy is the liberation of the homeland.
