On Sunday, July 3, 2022, at 17:30, the annual memorial ceremony was held for the fallen soldiers of the battle on Givat Ibdis, in the presence of bereaved families, veterans of the 1948 war, soldiers of the Givati Brigade and those who cherish the memory of the fallen.
The battles for the Ibdis post during the War of Independence took place between July 7, 1948, and July 12, between soldiers of the Givati Brigade and reinforced brigade combat units of the Egyptian army. The post, located on a ridge about 2,000 meters Northeast of Negba, was captured in Operation An-Far and the brigade’s forces continued to hold it in the face of Egyptian counterattacks.
In July 1948, the Egyptians attacked Givat Ibdis with the aim of cutting off Negba and use it as a launching pad for the South. The 53rd Battalion captured the hill by surprise, drove the Egyptians away and seized a lot of spoils. The Egyptians’ counterattacks – using infantry, tanks, artillery, and aircrafts – continued for a whole day, but were staved off by the battalion’s fighters, despite their heavy losses.
The 52nd Battalion, which replaced the 53rd Battalion, faced two more days of attacks by large Egyptian forces that came in waves, and held them off. The battalion’s losses were heavy. The 54th Battalion also participated in the battle and made its contribution.
The Battle of Ibdis was one of the most difficult and bitter battles of the War of Independence. Here the Egyptian army was stopped at a heavy price, as it galloped towards the South of the country, towards Tel Aviv.
The brigade lost 25 fighters from the 52nd, 53rd and 54th battalions.