page_title: Operation GYS
section_title: GYS 1
hierarchical_section_title: Operation GYS / GYS 1
caption_attribution_description: English: Israel Defense Forces-initiated Operation GYS 1, July 27, 1948.
context_page_description: Operation GYS, or Operation Gayis, short for Golani, Yiftach, Sergei —the three participating brigades—was an Israeli military and logistical operation conducted during the second truce of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Its objective was to create a corridor to the Israeli enclave in the northern Negev desert, surrounded by the Egyptian army. When the military operation commenced and failed on July 27, 1948, a more modest operation was attempted on July 31, aimed just to transport goods to the enclave.
  In GYS 1, the Israelis hoped to capture Fallujah and Iraq al-Manshiyya, thus cutting a wedge through the Egyptian forces and having free passage to the Negev. However, the attack on Iraq al-Manshiyya failed and the forces in Fallujah retreated due to communication problems. In GYS 2, the forces took a safer road to the east of Iraq al-Manshiyya and successfully escorted a convoy of 20 trucks. A third attempt on August 18–19, called Operation Way to the Negev, failed. As a result, most supplies had to be transported by air for almost two months, in an operation known as Operation Avak.
context_section_description: Operation GYS was a plan to create a corridor between the Negev and the rest of Israel from Gat and Karatiyya in the north to Bir Abu-Jabir in the south. The Givati Brigade's forces would deploy from Jaladiyya, the Yiftach Brigade's—from Gat, and the Negev Brigade's—from Bror Hayil. Givati's 53rd Battalion would capture Iraq al-Manshiyya, and Yiftach's forces, under the umbrella command of its 1st Battalion, would take Fallujah. They would meet to the south of the villages with Negev's 7th Battalion. The time frame for the operation was set for only one day. The command was given to Shimon Avidan, CO of the Givati Brigade.
  The attack started on July 27, when Givati sent a force to attack Bayt 'Affa (between Negba and Karatiyya) as a diversion. Other Givati forces then left Gat and assaulted Iraq al-Manshiyya but met with heavy resistance. Meanwhile, an Yiftach company surrounded Fallujah in another company attacked; a third was in reserve. The first thrust was repelled, and on the second, the company reached the village's inner perimeter. However, the commander of Yiftach's forces was unable to communicate with the attacking company and a retreat order was given. The two companies around the village complied immediately, but the situation was more difficult for the spearhead force, which stayed until dawn and suffered four dead and 26 wounded. After the operation failed, Negev forces, which took up positions at Bir Abu-Jabir, also went back to their bases.
caption: Map of the movements in GYS 1
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