page_title: Auja al-Hafir
section_title: 1948 Arab–Israeli War
hierarchical_section_title: Auja al-Hafir / History / 1948 Arab–Israeli War
caption_attribution_description: English: Al Awja Neutral Zone map
context_page_description: Auja al-Hafir, was an ancient road junction close to water wells in the western Negev and eastern Sinai. It was the traditional grazing land of the 'Azazme tribe. The border crossing between Egypt and Ottoman/British Palestine, about 60 km south of Gaza, was situated there. Today it is the site of Nitzana and the Ktzi'ot military base in the Southern District of Israel.
context_section_description: In 1948 the Egyptian Army used the area as a military base. In the Battle of 'Auja, a campaign of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, it was captured  by the 89th Mechanized Commando Battalion of Israel, which had an English-speaking platoon of volunteers from England, Germany, the Netherlands, Rhodesia, South Africa, and the U.S.
caption: Al 'Awja Neutral Zone
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