Ashkelon
"The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the
Neolithic Age.
"In the course of its history, it has been ruled by the
Ancient Egyptians, the
Canaanites, the
Philistines, the
Assyrians, the
Babylonians, the
Greeks, the
Phoenicians, the
Hasmoneans, the
Romans, the
Persians, the
Arabs and the
Crusaders, until it was destroyed by the
Mamluks in 1270.
"The Arab village of
al-Majdal or
al-Majdal Asqalan ...was established a few kilometres inland from the ancient site by the late 15th century, under
Ottoman rule..."
Al-Majdal was the forward position of the
Egyptian Expeditionary Force based in
Gaza.
[3]
"The village was conquered by Israeli forces on 5 November 1948, by which time most of the Arab population had fled,
[4] leaving some 2,700 inhabitants, of which 500 were deported by Israeli soldiers in December 1948.
[4]
The town was initially named Migdal Gaza, Migdal
Gad and Migdal Ashkelon by the new Jewish inhabitants.
"Most of the remaining Arabs were deported by 1950.
[5]
"In 1953, the coastal neighborhood of Afridar was incorporated and the name 'Ashkelon' was adopted for the combined town."