The major assault on Jaffa began on March 15, 1948, but Arab fighters repelled it. After five days, Jewish gangs launched a stronger attack on the Abu Kebir area, adjacent to Jaffa, which Arabs also countered. However, repeated attacks occurred on March 22nd and 23rd of the same month.
These repeated attacks on Jaffa and its suburbs terrified the city's residents. The Arab National Committee in Jaffa sought help from the Military Committee in Damascus. Consequently, on March 26th, the Qadisiyah Battalion was sent to Jaffa and stationed in the Manshiyya and al-Bassa neighborhoods. On April 24th, Zionist gangs attacked the Manshiyya district and bombarded the entire city with mortars and rockets the next day. The assault continued until April 28th.
Meanwhile, Fawzi al-Qawuqji sent a detachment of the Army of Salvation led by Captain Michel Issa to support the resistance. However, Issa found that Captain Najm al-Din, leader of the Qadisiyah Battalion stationed at strategic positions, vacated these positions due to a disagreement with al-Qawuqji. The Jews occupied Manshiyya and Tel al-Rish without casualties. On the same day, Salama, al-Abassiya, and Beit Dajan in Jaffa's jurisdiction fell to the Jews, causing panic among the people. Issa and his men, along with some members of the National Committee, fled the besieged city on May 5th, intensifying fear as residents watched Arab forces depart from Jaffa. Chaos reigned as thousands evacuated their homes in search of safety.