Qibya massacre

The Qibya Massacre occurred in October 1953 when Israeli troops under Ariel Sharon attacked a Jordanian West Bank village.

69 Palestinians were killed, many while hiding in houses blown up over their heads. Forty-five houses, a school, and a mosque were destroyed.

The act was condemned by the US State Department, the UN Security Council, and by Jewish communities worldwide. As a result, aid was temporarily suspended to Israel.

The operation was codenamed Operation Shoshana by the Israel Defense Force (IDF). It was carried out by two Israeli units at night: a paratroop company and Unit 101, a special forces unit of the IDF.