massacre. 15–21 April – Operation Harel: Haganah clearance of Arab forces northeast of the Tel Aviv – Jerusalem road. 15 April – Operation Yiftach: Haganah/Palmach capture of Safed and other villages in the eastern Galilee 21–22 April – Operation Bi'ur Hametz: Haganah capture of Haifa. 22 April–2 May – Operation Yevusi: Haganah capture of buildings in Jerusalem's Jewish neighborhoods. 25–27 April – Battle of Manshiyya: Irgun attack on the Manshiyya neighborhood of Jaffa, leading to British intervention. 27 April– 13 May – Operation Hametz: Haganah capture villages east of Jaffa. 3–4 May – Operation Matateh (part of Operation Yiftach): opening up Tiberias–Metula by Palmach forces. 6–12 May – Battle of Safed (part of Operation Yiftach): Capture of Safed by Palmach forces. 8 May – Operation Maccabi: Haganah opening up the corridor to Jerusalem. 10–15 May – Operation Barak: Capturing areas under responsibility of Givati Brigade. 11 May – Operation Gideon: Haganah capture of the Beit She'an and surrounding area. 13 May – Kfar Etzion massacre: The Gush Etzion (the Etzion Bloc), three Jewish kibbutzim which were established in 1945–1947 and dominated the road between Jerusalem and Hebron, hold off Arab attacks for ten days until one of the kibbutzim, Kfar Etzion, falls on 13 May, and the Arab forces massacre Kfar Etzion's remaining defenders. Altogether, 127 Jews, including 21 women, are killed in the battles of 12–13 May and the subsequent massacre. Only three men and one woman survive. The following day, the three other kibbutzim surrender and the prisoners are taken as POWs by the Arab Legion and held by Jordan for a year before being released. 13–14 May – Operation Ben-Ami: Capture of Acre and the coast up to the Lebanese border. 13 May – Operation Schfifon: Capture of buildings abandoned by British troops in the Old City of Jerusalem. 13 May – Hadassah medical convoy massacre: A convoy, escorted by Haganah paramilitary members, bringing medical and fortification supplies and personnel to Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus is ambushed by Arab forces. 79 Jews, mainly doctors and nurses, are killed in the attack. 14 May – The Declaration of Independence of Israel is made in Tel Aviv, the day before the British Mandate of Palestine is due to expire. 15 May – At midnight between 14 and 15 May, the British Mandate is officially terminated and the State of Israel comes into being. Notable births 15 January; Avishay