al-Batani al-Gharbi

The village is in the southern coastal plain. It was founded during the Umayyad Caliphate, 36 kilometers from Gaza and 25 meters above sea level. It was distinguished by its geographical location and its secondary roads that connected it to neighboring villages. In the late nineteenth century, the village was located on low-lying land, and its residents depended on agriculture, where crops such as citrus fruits and grains were grown. In 1945, its population reached 980 people distributed over more than 147 houses. In 1947, an elementary school was opened in the village.

Displacement

Al-Batani al-Gharbi was occupied on May 18, 1948, during Operation Barak. Most of the residents fled before or during the attack, as the operation aimed to “cleanse” the villages located south and west of Ramla.

Colonization

There are no settlements on the village lands, but the settlement of (Azrikam), which was established in 1950, is located near the village site to the south on lands belonging to the village of Beit Daras.

The Village Today

Today, some of the village alleys are still visible, but they have become deserted. Cacti, fig trees, and sycamore trees grow on the site, while the inhabitants of the neighboring colony cultivate some of the nearby land. There is also a stone quarry on the village lands, indicating that the area was exploited for other purposes after the departure of its original inhabitants, as the village was transformed from an active agricultural community to a deserted site with some limited agricultural activities.

Reference: Walid Al-Khalidi, Lest We Forget, pp. 516, 517.