Expulsion of Jews from Jaffa and Tel Aviv

In April 1917, during the tumultuous period of World War I, the Ottoman military commander issued a sweeping expulsion order affecting the entire population of Jaffa and Tel Aviv, which included both Muslims and Jews. This drastic measure was primarily driven by suspicions that the Jewish community was aligned with Russia, an enemy of the Ottomans, or that they were Zionists aiming to detach Palestine from the Ottoman Empire. Between 1914 and 1915, over 14,000 Jews were expelled from the Jaffa area, reflecting the broader geopolitical tensions of the time. The expelled individuals faced significant hardships, as they were not permitted to return until the British conquest in 1918, which ultimately led to the withdrawal of Ottoman forces from Southern Syria. This expulsion is significant in the context of the British government's strategy during the war, as they sought Jewish support for their military efforts and expressed sympathy for the aims of Zionism. The events of 1917 marked a critical juncture in the history of Jewish communities in Palestine, setting the stage for future developments in the region.