Siege of Jaffa (1775)

The Siege of Jaffa by the mamluk strongman of Egypt, Abu al-Dhahab, began on 3 April and ended with the capture of the city on 29 May from the forces of Palestine's strongman, Sheikh Daher al-Umar. The city was subsequently sacked, its men put to the sword and its women and children taken captive.

The punitive measures were intended to deter the defenders and inhabitants of other towns under Daher's control from resisting Abu al-Dhahab's forces. Indeed, the inhabitants of Daher's capital Acre evacuated in mass panic after news of Jaffa's massacre and Daher withdrew to the mountains of south Lebanon. His fortunes turned when Abu al-Dhahab suddenly died and the Egyptian army immediately retreated, allowing Daher to resume control in Acre. Nevertheless, the campaigned drained his power and in August, Daher was slain during an Ottoman naval blockade of his capital.

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