Although Gazit's Haganah unit was later pushed out of Kastel by an Arab counterattack, Husayni's death had a devastating effect on Arab morale.[2] He fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War as an intelligence officer and company commander in the Etzioni Brigade, participating in fighting in the Jerusalem area. He led an effort to resupply the besieged Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem's Old City, and was severely wounded in the fighting.[3]