The French campaign on Jaffa, March 3rd-14th 1799

Abstract EN

This research introduces the French campaign against Egypt beginning in 1798, the reasons for the French campaign against Palestine, the path of the French forces to Jaffa, the progress of the forces until the imposition of the siege, the demand to hand it over, the refusal of the commander of the garrison - Ahmed Agha - to go ahead with that and the subsequent attack on the city by Bonaparte, who started bombing the city and its walls.

This research has also dealt with the resistance of the Jaffa garrison which was unable to stop the progress of the French forces.

This eventually led to the storming of the city and the subsequent looting and killing carried out by the French soldiers against the native people.

This research has additionally examined the special agreement whereby the Jaffa garrison soldiers surrendered to the French forces in return for securing their lives and Bonaparte and his military council discussing the fate of these prisoners.

This resulted in the decision to execute all of the garrison soldiers who numbered an estimated 3,000.

The research has further noted the spread of the plague among the French army in Jaffa and the discussion of the suspicion that Bonaparte poisoned the sick soldiers.

The study has additionally touched on the two letters that Bonaparte sent on March 9th 1799 to the residents of Palestine and Ahmed Pasha Al-Jazzar.

The research ends with a conclusion that includes the most important results of this interpretation.