Lydda Airport, Palestine 🇵🇸 c.1950's
Yesterday was the first ever flight from Ben Gurion Airport in occupied Palestine to the UAE. The airport's original name is Lydda Airport located in the town of Lydda, Palestine. It was the biggest of five airports in Palestine and hosted airlines included Palestine Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, and Trans World Airlines (which flew from New York). â €
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The town of Lydda has also been erased from existence when its population of 70,000 was ethnically cleansed by Isreali soldiers under the direct order of Ben Gurion himself. Isreali soldiers were ordered to shoot at any clear target, including at anyone seen on the streets. â €
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Palestinian residence were systematically stripped of all their belongings before they were sent to their trek to the frontier. Household belongings, stores, clothing, all had to be left behind. The forced expulsions, which came to be known as the Lydda Death March, claimed the lives of over 2,000 Palestinians. After the cleansing, the 7000 year old town was sacked by the Israeli army which carried off 1,800 truckloads of spoils.