shovalmenahem

The Metzudat Koach Memorial (Hebrew: מצודת כ"ח‎, also Nabi Yusha fortress) commemorates 28 soldiers who died during the conquering of the strategically important fortress. The fortress and observation point is located in the Upper Galilee, close to the tomb of Nabi Yusha.

By mid-April 1948, the British army had evacuated most of Upper Galilee. A number of key points were subsequently occupied by Arab forces, amongst which the police fortress at Nabi Yusha. This fortress commanded the main road to Upper Galilee and the routes to the Jewish settlements of Ramot Naftali and Manara. The palmach understood that this observation point had a strategic importance for the safety and future of the kibbutzim below.
On April 15 in the evening hours, the police station was attacked by a company composed of Golani, Palmach and militia from nearby Jewish settlements, which moved in two armoured cars and two armoured Egged buses. Strong fire was opened on the attacking force which was compelled to withdraw. 4 Jews were killed in the battle.
On April 20, a second attempt was made to occupy the fortress by a force from the third Palmach battalion. A small force succeeded in breaking the barriers and reaching the fortress wall but two of its members were hit, which delayed the detonation of the explosives until their evacuation. During said evacuation, enemy fire was directed at them and many of the unit soldiers were killed. The troops fought to their last man. Altogether, 22 Jews were killed in the battle.
During the night of May 16-17, a company of the third battalion of the Yiftach Brigade occupied the fortress after driving away their enemy. On the next day, two of the conquerors were killed.
In the battles for the occupation of the fortress 28 Jewish soldiers fell and "Metzudat Hakoach" (Fortress of the 28) is named after them today.… (meer)