Mail Auction #28 closing on

Palestine Postal History - Egyptian Occupation 1948 Town of Isdud (Ashdod today) cover mailed to Egypt. Franked with Egyptian stamps overprinted "Palestine" for total of 10 Mils tied by Isdud postmarks dated June 1 1948 1st day of usage for the ovpt. stamps. Cover with points toned, otherwise F-VF. covers mailed from Isdud during the Egyptian occupations are very rare. This postmark was used during the British mandate in Palestine from 1947 to the end of April 1948 & was used again by the Egyptians for a very short time during the 1948 occupation.  Ashdod (Est. 20 miles south of Tel Aviv and 20 Mile north of Gaza. The village of Isdud was occupied by the Egyptian army on May 29, 1948 and became the Egyptians' northernmost position during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. While the Israelis failed to capture territory, and suffered heavy casualties, Egypt changed its strategy from offensive to defensive, thus halting their advance northwards. Egyptian and Israeli forces clashed in the surrounding area, with the Egyptians being unable to hold the Ad Halom bridge over the Lachish River. Israeli forces surrounded the town during Operation Pleshet, and shelled and bombed it from the air. For three nights from 18 October the Israeli Air Force bombed Isdud and several other locations.Fearing encirclement, Egyptian forces retreated on October 28, 1948 and the majority of the residents fled. The 300 towns people who remained were driven southwards by the Israel Defense Forces.