Palestine 1936–1939 Part 1
The Arab Revolt — Illustrated London News Collection
These pages collects ILN coverage and related material documenting the 1936–1939 Arab Revolt in Palestine — a critical prelude to the events of 1948.
Between 1936 and 1939 Palestine was shaken by a major uprising against British rule and growing Jewish immigration. Known as the Arab Revolt, it began with a general strike in April 1936 and escalated into widespread unrest — strikes, civil disobedience and armed guerrilla actions. The British responded with military force and political commissions, notably the Peel Commission (1937), which for the first time formally proposed partition as a solution.
The uprising reflected long-standing grievances: land transfers and tenancy losses associated with Zionist land purchase; economic displacement and unemployment among Arab workers; and political frustration at the absence of meaningful Arab self-government under the British Mandate, especially after the 1917 Balfour Declaration.
Key figures (brief)
- Haj Amin al-Husseini — Grand Mufti of Jerusalem; prominent political leader and head of the Arab Higher Committee during 1936.
- Izz ad-Din al-Qassam — Militant preacher (killed 1935); his killing helped galvanise anti-British sentiment that fed into 1936 unrest.
- Abd al-Rahim al-Hajj Muhammad — Principal field commander in the central highlands, led prolonged guerrilla action in 1938–39.
- Fawzi al-Qawuqji — Arab volunteer commander who led irregular forces active in and around Palestine.
- Sir Arthur Wauchope — British High Commissioner (1931–1938) who presided over Mandate security responses.
- Lord Peel — Chaired the 1937 Royal Commission (Peel Commission) that proposed partition.
(All names are well-documented in British mandate records, ILN reportage and modern histories.)
Short historical note
The revolt ran from April 1936 to 1939. It combined urban strike action and rural guerrilla warfare. Britain deployed increasing security forces and introduced emergency regulations; thousands were arrested, and many Palestinian political organisations were weakened or banned. The Peel Commission (1937) and subsequent White Paper (1939) shaped the political debate but did not resolve the conflict; the decline of Palestinian organisation during these years was a key factor leading into the later 1947–48 crisis.
May 2nd - June 27th
(left) The Racial disturbances in Palestine: British police facing a mob in the streets of Tel Aviv, where disorder was rife.
(right) Mourning Jews killed in the riots, at Tel Aviv: The procession of Biers protected by volunteer street orderlies linking hands.
Arab and Jew in conflict in Palestine: Racial bitterness and official precautions
Racial bitterness in Palestine, British attempts to curb
Where the outlook is still grave: The outbreak of lawlessness
Where rival communities of Jews and Arabs are in grave conflict: A relief map of Palestine; showing towns and villages in which disorderly incidents have occurred
The Palestine disturbances: (upper) A dramatic photograph showing British police dispersing Arab rioters in Jaffa: (lower) The small police force, armed only with baton and shield, facing a dense Arab mob
In Disturbed Palestine : A stern task for British troops and police
Arab riots in Palestine and the measures taken for... see below
cont. from above - ...their suppression : Disorder in Jaffa and elsewhere
Riotous Palestine: An officer shot; Police dogs; Jaffa demolitions
- Peel Commission Report (Cmd. 5479), 1937.
- Mattar, Philip. The Arab Revolt 1936–1939 (selected modern histories).
- Contemporary ILN issues (scanned pages on this site).