This page is subject to the extended confirmed restriction related to the Arab-Israeli conflict.The Eilabun[a] massacre was committed on 30 October 1948 by the Israeli Defense Forces as part of the 1948 Palestine war.
The remaining villagers were expelled to Lebanon, living as refugees for some months before being allowed to return in 1949 as part of an agreement between the state of Israel and Archbishop Maximos V Hakim.
[2] The forces of Fawzi al-Qawuqji's Arab Liberation Army (ALA) occupied Eilabun.
The soldiers however were angry due to battle losses, the earlier procession, and possibly the discovery of a rotting head in one of the houses.
Following a United Nations investigation and pressure from the Vatican and discussion within the Israeli government, the villagers were allowed to return and receive Israeli citizenship as part of a 1949 agreement between the state of Israel and archbishop Maximos V Hakim in return for Hakim's future goodwill.