Karmia (Hebrew: כַּרְמִיָּה) is a kibbutz in southern Israel. Located between Ashkelon and the Gaza Strip, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. In 2022 it had a population of 656.[1]

Karmia
כרמיה
Karmia is located in Ashkelon region of Israel
Karmia
Karmia
Coordinates: 31°36′15″N 34°32′33″E / 31.60417°N 34.54250°E / 31.60417; 34.54250
CountryIsrael
DistrictSouthern
CouncilHof Ashkelon
AffiliationKibbutz Movement
Founded20 May 1950
Founded byFrench and Tunisian Hashomer Hatzair members
Population
 (2022)
656[1]

History

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The kibbutz was established on 20 May 1950 by a Nahal gar'in of Hashomer Hatzair members from France and Tunisia who had been trained in Beit Zera. It was established on land that had belonged to the Palestinian village of Hiribya, which had been depopulated during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.[2] Its name is derived from the Hebrew for vineyard (Hebrew: כרם, Kerem), which were common in the area.

In 1972 a blanket factory was established in the kibbutz.[citation needed]

The kibbutz absorbed 54 families from the Elei Sinai and Nisanit Israeli settlements, which were evacuated as part of the disengagement plan.[3] Since 2006 it has been repeatedly hit by Qassam rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, including one that landed on its football pitch, and another Qassam rocket that landed inside a house and injured 3 people severely in 2005.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ Khalidi, Walid (1992). All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948. Washington D.C.: Institute for Palestine Studies. p. 102. ISBN 0-88728-224-5.
  3. ^ "Evacuees: First we were expelled, now we're abandoned". The Jerusalem Post. 8 February 2006.