Thursday marks 88 years since the Hevron Massacre. On August 24, 1929, an Arab mob rampaged through Hevron's historic Jewish Quarter, murdering 67 men, women, and children.
Jerusalem Mufti Mohammed Amin al-Husseini had incited the Arabs to violence by spreading rumors that Jews were planning to seize control of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Arabs armed with staves, axes and knives ran through the Jewish section of Hevron, screaming 'slaughter the Jews'.
As there was only one British police officer in the entire city, the rioters were able to enter Jewish houses unopposed.
Two days later, 67 Jews lay dead.The Arabs murdered children in front of their parents, severed limbs, raped and burned people alive. Many Jewish synagogues were also vandalized and desecrated.
British reinforcements arrived, and expelled the Jews from the city, despite being the victims.
The British High Commissioner in the Land of Israel, Sir John Chancellor, published a statement following the massacre, saying that "I have learned with horror of the atrocious acts committed by bodies of ruthless and bloodthirsty evil-doers, of savage murders perpetrated upon defenseless members of the Jewish population regardless of age or sex."
"These crimes have brought upon their authors the execration of all civilized peoples throughout the world."