Hadassah medical convoy massacre

The Hadassah medical convoy massacre was an event that took place in 1948 during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, approximately one month before Israel's declaration of independence. At the time, the area was still part of the British mandate of Palestine.

On April 13, a convoy of 10 vehicles, mostly consisting of unarmed Jewish doctors, nurses and lecturers on the way to the Hadassah Hospital on the Hebrew University campus on Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, was attacked by Arab irregular forces. For several hours, the British refused to intervene, and attempts by the Palmach to rescue the convoy were unsuccessful. The attack continued for 6-7 hours before the British finally stopped it. Altogether approximately 77 Jews were killed by gunfire or were burnt when several vehicles were set alight.

Further reading

• Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre, O Jerusalem!, History Book Club, 1972.
• Jacques de Reynier, A Jerusalem un drapeau flottait sur la ligne de feu.