First day of the Arab revolt in Mandatory Palestine.

The period between 1936 and 1939 in Mandatory Palestine was marked by a profound and violent upheaval, a nationalist uprising by the Palestinian Arab population that became widely known as The Great Revolt (in Arabic, al-Thawra al-Kubra) or sometimes, more specifically, The Great Palestinian Revolt (Thawrat Filastin al-Kubra). This extensive period of unrest represented a direct challenge to the British administration of the Palestine Mandate and articulated core demands for Arab independence, a cessation of open-ended Jewish immigration, and an end to land purchases by Jewish entities, which were perceived as fundamental to the stated goal of establishing a "Jewish National Home" in Palestine.

This critical juncture in Palestinian history coincided with several intensifying pressures. The influx of Jewish immigrants had reached unprecedented levels, with approximately 60,000 arriving in 1935 alone. This remarkable demographic shift saw the Jewish population under British auspices grow from a mere 57,000 to 320,000 by 1935, a development that profoundly reshaped the social and economic landscape. Simultaneously, the plight of the rural Palestinian Arab peasants, known as fellahin, had become increasingly desperate. Many were rendered landless, compelling them to migrate to burgeoning metropolitan centers where, instead of finding relief, they faced further social marginalization and abject poverty. This combination of demographic change and socio-economic distress created fertile ground for widespread discontent.

Roots of Discontent and the Immediate Spark

Tensions between Jewish and Palestinian Arab communities had simmered, often flaring into cycles of attacks and counter-attacks, ever since the early 1920s, following the establishment of the British Mandate. However, the immediate catalyst for the 1936 uprising was a tragic sequence of events. The murder of two Jewish individuals by a band associated with the legacy of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam – an influential Islamic preacher and anti-British, anti-Zionist figure who had been killed by British forces in 1935 – quickly led to retaliatory killings by Jewish gunmen of two Arab laborers. These incidents ignited a swift and violent escalation across Palestine, marking the beginning of the revolt.

Just a month into these initial disturbances, on May 16, 1936, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Hajj Amin al-Husseini, a prominent Palestinian Arab leader, declared it 'Palestine Day' and issued a powerful call for a General Strike. This call resonated widely, signaling a collective Arab voice against British policies and Zionist aspirations. Within the Jewish community of Palestine, known as the Yishuv, the revolt was widely condemned as "immoral and terroristic," with many drawing parallels to the rising totalitarian ideologies of fascism and Nazism in Europe. Yet, even within the Zionist leadership, there were nuanced views. David Ben-Gurion, a key figure and later Israel's first Prime Minister, acknowledged that the Arab causes for the uprising stemmed from genuine fears: the apprehension of growing Jewish economic power, strong opposition to mass Jewish immigration, and a deep-seated fear of British identification with the Zionist project.

Phases of the Revolt

The Arab Revolt is generally understood to have unfolded in two distinct, though interconnected, phases.

Phase One: Popular Resistance and Political Action (April – October 1936)

The initial phase, lasting from April to October 1936, began as a wave of spontaneous popular resistance. This grassroots movement, driven by the frustrations of the wider Arab populace, soon gained a more organized shape when it was seized upon by the urban and elitist Higher Arab Committee (HAC). Under the leadership of figures like Hajj Amin al-Husseini, the HAC provided the movement with a more centralized structure, focusing primarily on the general strike and other forms of political protest, such as boycotts and demonstrations. The aim was to achieve concrete political concessions from the British Mandate authorities.

However, by October 1936, this phase of organized political resistance faced significant opposition. The British civil administration managed to suppress it through a multi-pronged approach that included a combination of political concessions (though largely symbolic), extensive international diplomacy involving the rulers of neighboring Arab states (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Transjordan, and Yemen), and the explicit threat of imposing martial law across the territory. This concerted effort temporarily diffused the immediate crisis, bringing the first phase of the general strike to an end.

Phase Two: Escalation to Armed Rebellion (Late 1937 – 1939)

The second phase of the revolt ignited in late 1937, evolving into a much more intense and often violent peasant-led resistance movement. This shift was largely provoked by the increasingly harsh British repression witnessed during the first phase and the perceived failure of political negotiation to yield substantive results. The rebellion transformed from primarily political protest to an armed insurgency. British forces, including the British Army and the Palestine Police Force, became direct targets. In response, the army itself intensified its operations, increasingly targeting villages suspected of supporting the revolt, leading to a cycle of escalating violence and retribution.

During this brutal second phase, the British Army and the Palestine Police Force employed severe repressive measures, intended not only to quash the rebellion but also to intimidate the entire population and erode popular support for the uprising. A significant and tragic development within the Arab community during this period was the deepening of internal divisions. The powerful Nashashibi clan, whose National Defence Party (NDP) represented a more moderate political faction, quickly withdrew from the rebel-led Higher Arab Committee, which was dominated by the more radical faction of Amin al-Husseini. Instead, the Nashashibis sided with the British, even dispatching their own "Fasail al-Salam" (or "Peace Bands") in coordination with the British Army. These "Peace Bands" actively engaged against nationalist and Jihadist Arab "Fasail" units (literally, "bands") loyal to Husseini, transforming the revolt into a complex internal conflict alongside the struggle against the British.

The Human Cost and Lasting Consequences

The Arab Revolt exacted a devastating human toll. According to official British figures spanning the entire revolt, the army and police were responsible for the deaths of more than 2,000 Arabs in combat, while 108 were executed by hanging. An additional 961 Arabs died due to what the British described as "gang and terrorist activities." However, independent analyses often present higher figures. Historian Walid Khalidi, based on an in-depth study of British statistics, estimates the total Arab casualties at 19,792, including 5,032 fatalities (3,832 killed by the British and 1,200 due to intracommunal violence) and 14,760 wounded. Other estimates suggest that a staggering ten percent of the adult male Palestinian Arab population, aged between 20 and 60, was either killed, wounded, imprisoned, or exiled. While the focus is often on Arab casualties, estimates indicate that up to several hundred Palestinian Jews were also killed during the revolt.

Ultimately, the Arab revolt in Mandatory Palestine was unsuccessful in achieving its immediate objectives of independence and a halt to Jewish immigration. Its consequences, however, profoundly shaped the future of the region and directly impacted the outcome of the 1948 Palestine War. One critical outcome was the British Mandate's decision to provide significant, almost crucial, support to pre-state Zionist militias, such as the Haganah, which gained valuable training and resources. Conversely, on the Palestinian Arab side, the suppression of the revolt led to the flight into exile of key leaders, most notably the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Hajj Amin al-Husseini. This leadership vacuum and the widespread disorganization of Palestinian Arab political and military structures left them significantly weakened and disunited in the critical years leading up to 1948, a vulnerability that would prove catastrophic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What was the primary aim of the 1936–1939 Arab Revolt in Palestine?
The primary aim of the revolt was to achieve Arab independence from British rule, halt the extensive Jewish immigration into Palestine, and prevent further Jewish land purchases, thereby resisting the establishment of a "Jewish National Home" as envisioned by the Balfour Declaration and the British Mandate.
What were the main causes that led to the Arab Revolt?
The revolt was fueled by multiple factors, including widespread Arab nationalism, fears stemming from significant Jewish immigration and land acquisition, the growing economic plight and landlessness of Palestinian Arab peasants (fellahin), and a history of escalating tensions and violence between Arab and Jewish communities under British administration.
Who were the key figures involved in the Arab Revolt?
On the Arab side, Hajj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and leader of the Higher Arab Committee, was a central figure. Internally, the Nashashibi clan also played a significant, albeit opposing, role by aligning with the British against other Arab factions. On the British side, the Mandate administration and military forces were responsible for suppressing the revolt. David Ben-Gurion provided a key Zionist perspective on Arab motivations.
How did the British respond to the Arab Revolt?
The British initially used political concessions and international diplomacy to suppress the first phase. In the second, more violent phase, they responded with increasingly harsh military repression, including targeting villages, extensive use of force, and working with opposing Arab factions (like the "Peace Bands") to crush the rebellion.
What were the major consequences of the Arab Revolt for the Palestinian Arabs?
The revolt, though demonstrating strong national sentiment, was ultimately unsuccessful. It resulted in devastating casualties among the Palestinian Arab population, the exile of key leaders like Hajj Amin al-Husseini, and severe weakening and disorganization of Palestinian Arab political and military structures. These factors critically hampered their position in the lead-up to the 1948 Palestine War.
How did the revolt impact Zionist forces and the future of Palestine?
Paradoxically, the revolt inadvertently strengthened pre-state Zionist militias like the Haganah, as the British Mandate provided them with crucial training, weaponry, and resources to assist in suppressing the Arab uprising. This support contributed significantly to their organizational and military readiness for the later 1948 conflict. The revolt also influenced British policy, leading to considerations like the Peel Commission's partition plan, though this specific proposal was ultimately rejected.