Battle of Beersheba (1948)

Battle of Beersheba
Part of 1948 Arab–Israeli War
Date 21 October 1948 Location Beersheba, Israel Result Israeli victory
Belligerents
Israel	Egypt
Commanders and leaders
Nahum Sarig (Negev)
Strength
Three battalions	Reinforced battalion
Casualties and losses
?	120 captured

The Battle of Beersheba, codenamed Operation Moses (Hebrew: מִבְצָע מֹשֶׁה, Mivtza Moshe), was an Israeli offensive on Beersheba on October 21, 1948. It was part of Operation Yoav and was conducted at the end of the operation. It was made possible following the opening of a land corridor from the Negev desert to the rest of Israel in the Battles of the Separation Corridor. The capture had both military and political significance. It helped sever the supply route of the Egyptian expeditionary force's eastern wing, and strengthened Israel's claim to the Negev desert.

The attack started at 04:00 on October 21, and involved the Negev Brigade and the 89th Battalion of the 8th Brigade. It ended at 09:15, when the Egyptians surrendered the town's police station.