'Operation Palm Tree'), was the largest offensive by Israeli forces in the north of Palestine after the first truce of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.

Its objective was to capture Nazareth and the Lower Galilee.

On 15 July Israeli aircraft bombed Saffuriya village and caused panic among the population; many of the villagers fled northwards toward Lebanon, others found shelter in Nazareth, leaving about 100 elderly people behind.

The Arab Liberation Army forces in the village under the command of Fawzi al-Qawuqji retreated to the mountains in the north.

In sharp contrast to the surrounding towns, the inhabitants of Nazareth were never forced to evacuate as Dunkelman refused to obey orders from Haim Laskov to evacuate them.