Barqusya (also: Barkusya, ) was a Palestinian Arab village in the Hebron Subdistrict, depopulated in the 1948 Palestine War. It was located 31 km northwest of Hebron. History In 1838, in the Ottoman era, Berkusia was noted as Muslim village in the Gaza area,Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, Appendix 2, p. 119 and being "somewhat larger" than Bil'in.Robinson and smith, 1841, vol. 2, p. 368
In 1863, Victor Guérin found the village to have about 150 inhabitants. He further noted that it was situated on a low hill, with fig trees to the north.Guérin, 1869, p. 121
An official Ottoman village list of about 1870 showed that Berkusja had 28 houses and a population of 72, though the population count included men, only.Socin, 1879, p. 157Hartmann, 1883, p. 143 also noted 28 houses
In 1882 the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it: "A village of moderate size, on a hill in a conspicuous position. The houses are of mud and stone. There is a fine well, resembling that of Summeil, west of the village, and rock-cut tombs to the south-west."Conder and Kitchener, 1882, SWP II, pp. 414 -415
In 1896 the population of Berkusja was estimated to be about 171 persons.Schick, 1896, p. 123 British Mandate era In the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Barqusya had a population of 198 inhabitants, all Muslims,Barron, 1923, Table V, Sub-district of Hebron, p. 10 increasing in the 1931 census 258 inhabitants, in 53 houses.Mills, 1932, p. 27
In the 1945 statistics, it had a population of 330 Muslim inhabitants, and a land area of 3216 dunams. Of this, 28 dunams were for plantations and irrigable land, 2460 dunams were for cereals,Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 93 while 31 dunams were built-up (urban) land.Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 143
1948 and aftermath It was depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War on July 9, 1948, as part of Operation An-Far.Morris, 2004, p. 376Morris, 2004, p. 437, note #131, p. 456Morris, 2004, p. 443, notes #181, 185, pp. 459-460
In 1992 the village site was described: "No houses remain. Some graves can be seen amidst foxtail and khubbayza (mallow) plants. One of the graves has an inscribed tombstone resting on the superstructure. There are also the remnants of a well. Cactuses and a variety of trees, including palms grow on the site. The site serves as grazing grounds for Israeli farmers who also grow grapes and the fruits."Khalidi, 1992, p. 208 References
Bibliography
External links Welcome To Barqusya Barqusya, Zochrot Survey of Western Palestine, Map 16: IAA, Wikimedia commons Barqusya, from the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center