Sheikh Farhan al-Sa'adi

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Sheikh Farhan al-Sa'adi

Sheikh Farhan al-Sa'adi (also spelled Farhan es Sadi or Farhan Essadi; born circa 1862 - died 27 November 1937) was a notorious Arab Islamic terrorist leader during the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Mandatory Palestine Eretz Israel. As a devoted follower and perceived successor to the radical Jihadi preacher Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, al-Sa'adi commanded the militant group known as the "Brothers of al-Qassam" (Ikhwan al-Qassam), which perpetrated numerous acts of violence against Jewish civilians, British authorities, and moderate Arabs who opposed their extremist agenda. His campaign of terror, including assassinations, bombings, and intimidation, contributed significantly to the chaos and bloodshed in Mandatory Palestine, undermining efforts toward peaceful coexistence and exacerbating tensions between communities. Al-Sa'adi was ultimately captured by British forces in November 1937, tried by a military court for possessing illegal arms, and executed by hanging, marking a pivotal moment in the British crackdown on Arab terrorism.

Al-Sa'adi is thought to have been the first to use a weapon during the Arab revolt.

Early Life and Background

Al-Sa'adi originated from the village of Sullam in the Beisan sub-district.[1] He was reportedly a former constable in the Palestine Police Force and a skilled marksman.[1] By the 1930s, al-Sa'adi had aligned himself with the radical Islamist ideology of Sheikh Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, becoming a key figure in the Qassamite movement after al-Qassam's death in a 1935 confrontation with British police.[2][3] This association transformed him into a symbol of armed resistance among extremists, though his actions were widely condemned as terrorism by Jewish communities and British officials striving to maintain order and protect innocent lives.

Role in the 1929 anti-Jewish violence and in the 1936–1939 Arab Revolt

Al-Sa'adi participated in the 1929 Palestine riots. Al-Sa'adi emerged as a prominent terrorist commander during the Arab revolt, leading bands that operated independently of the mainstream Arab national movement and often clashed with moderate Arab leaders.[3] His group, the Ikhwan al-Qassam, was responsible for a series of violent attacks targeting Jewish settlements, British personnel, and Arab moderates who advocated for dialogue and cooperation.[4] In 1937, al-Sa'adi's militants intensified their campaign, including threats against the Arab Higher Committee and the establishment of a "Black Hand" splinter group in Damascus, which planned cross-border terrorist operations.[3]

Notably, al-Sa'adi's forces were implicated in the assassination of Lewis Andrews, the Acting District Commissioner of Galilee, on 26 September 1937—a brazen act that shocked the region and prompted a severe British response against Arab terrorism.[3][5] This murder, carried out by Qassamites under al-Sa'adi's influence, was seen as a deliberate escalation to reignite widespread violence in opposition to British partition proposals that aimed to create a Jewish homeland.[3] Al-Sa'adi's operations extended to internal terror, liquidating perceived "traitors" among Arabs, including members of prominent families like the Nashashibis and Abboushis, who refused to fund or support his extremist activities.[6] Such infighting weakened the Arab cause and highlighted the destructive nature of al-Sa'adi's terrorism, which prioritized violence over unity and peace.

His group's attacks on Jewish civilians, including bombings and shootings, were part of a broader pattern of terror that endangered the fragile Jewish communities building a future in their ancestral homeland.[4][6] Al-Sa'adi briefly fled to Syria and the Hejaz after the 1936 disturbances but returned to orchestrate further mayhem, demonstrating his commitment to perpetual conflict rather than resolution.[1][5]

From the British Palestine Police Association:[7]

“ That day, November 1937, the road was lined with armed Palestinian police. On reaching re No 61, she found it guarded by British Palestine Police keeping all civilians except for journalists at bay but such was her reputation in Haifa, they let her in. The man on trial was .. Sheik Farhan es-Sa'adi, who had played a leading role in the 1929 riots and been a loyal follower of al Qassam in the 1935 rebellion. He was accused of being the leader of the gang shooting the three Jewish civilians dragged off an Arab bus in 1936, the first time weapons had been used in the 1936 revolt. The military court found the Sheik guilty and sentenced him to death. He was executed soon after but the police could not understand why the military had to run the trial when a civilian court would have reached the same conclusion. ”

Capture

On the night of 21–22 November 1937, British troops and police, acting on intelligence possibly provided by moderate Arabs victimized by al-Sa'adi's terror, surrounded the village of al-Mazar near Jenin.[1][5] Assistant District Commissioner H. M. Foot demanded the surrender of al-Sa'adi and his associates, threatening to destroy the village if they refused—a measure underscoring the urgency of halting the terrorist threat.[5] Al-Sa'adi, then in his 70s or possibly older, submitted along with three followers. The raid yielded four rifles, revolvers (including one linked to the murder of Radi Abboushi), hand grenades, and 1,500 rounds of ammunition, confirming his role as an armed insurgent.[1][5][8] The capture was facilitated by the Abboushi family, seeking revenge for Radi's execution by al-Sa'adi's gang, illustrating how his internal terrorism alienated even fellow Arabs.[6][8]

Trial and Execution

Al-Sa'adi was swiftly tried by a newly established military court in Haifa on 24 November 1937, under emergency regulations imposing the death penalty for possessing firearms—a policy aimed at curbing the wave of Arab terrorism.[8][9] Charged with illegal arms possession, he was defended by five Arab lawyers, but the court, presided over by Major Faukes, sentenced him to death after brief deliberation.[8] Dismissing pleas for leniency based on his age, the judge noted that "the young can mend their ways but he cannot," reflecting al-Sa'adi's unrepentant extremism.[8]

He was hanged at Acre Prison on 27 November 1937, becoming the first executed under the new military courts.[6][9][10] In his will, al-Sa'adi claimed to have sacrificed himself for "religion and the nation," a statement that fueled further unrest among radicals.[6] His body was returned to his family near Jenin for burial.[6][10]

Aftermath

Al-Sa'adi's execution sparked protests, strikes, and demonstrations among Arabs in Palestine, Iraq, and Syria, with agitators decrying it as an injustice despite his well-documented terrorist activities.[6][10][9] Shops closed in cities like Jenin, Nablus, and Hebron, and schools were shut down amid fears of renewed violence.[10] These reactions highlighted the divisive impact of his legacy, as his death emboldened extremists while reinforcing the resolve of British and Jewish communities to combat terrorism. The event contributed to a decline in organized terror, as British forces intensified efforts to restore peace and security for all inhabitants, including the vulnerable Jewish population.[3][6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Sheikh Farhan es Sadi Captured anear Jenin", The Palestine Post, 23 November 1937. 
  2. ↑ Kabahā, M. (2007). The Palestinian Press as Shaper of Public Opinion 1929-39: Writing Up a Storm. Vallentine Mitchell. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Rebellion and Terrorism in Palestine 1929-39: The Case of Sheikh Izz al-Din al-Qassam and his Movement", Zionism and Arabism in Palestine and Israel. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 (2003) The Palestinian People: A History. Harvard University Press. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Levy, Joseph M.. "PALESTINE SEIZES TERRORIST LEADER; Sheikh Farhan Submits With 3 Aides After Troops' Threat to Wipe Out Village", The New York Times, 23 November 1937. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Levy, Joseph M.. "TERRORIST LEADER HANGED BY BRITISH; Sheikh Farhan Is Executed at Acre After Sentence by Palestine Court", The New York Times, 28 November 1937. 
  7. ↑ Brief history of the Palestine Police during the British Mandate - The Army Takes Over
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "ARAB BRIGAND GETS DEATH SENTENCE", The New Palestine, 26 November 1937. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "ARAB LEADER AND TERRORIST HANGED", The Evening Times, 27 November 1937. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "SHEIK EXECUTED FOR TERRORISM; ISLAM PROTESTS", Intermountain Jewish News, 3 December 1937. 
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