The Arab neighborhood of Al-Qatamon had been a target for Jewish attacks since the UN adopted the partition resolution due to its strategic location. The city shook when the Samir Amis Hotel was bombed on January 15, 1948, resulting in the burial of 22 Arabs under the debris, along with the destruction of three houses.
The Zionist gangs launched their largest attack on Al-Qatamon on April 27. The Orthodox Church of Saint Romanos was the first place to fall into the hands of the Jews. Ibrahim Abu Daya, responsible for defending Al-Qatamon, realized the magnitude of the attacking forces and called for help. A detachment from the Army of Salvation and fifty Jihad fighters responded. However, despite these reinforcements, they couldn't withstand the Jewish attacks with their modern weaponry and gear. By May 1, Abu Daya and a few surviving militants were compelled to leave, leaving the residents fearing the massacres perpetrated by the Zionists. Consequently, the neighborhood fell under the control of the Zionist gangs.
On May 14, the Sixth Battalion of the Army of Salvation withdrew from Jerusalem to Jericho. Their task was to guard Palestinian convoys on their trips to Bethlehem, Hebron, and Ramallah. The decision to depart was made by Glubb Pasha.