the israelis announced that they had battled ala units in the area, inflicting 100 casualties on 25 june. "the new york times" reported that there was fighting in the village for two days and that united nations (un) observers were there investigating truce violations. it added that "a small israeli garrison held al-birwa prior to the [first] truce", but it fell to ala troops based in nazareth who launched a surprise attack. some residents camped in the outskirts of the village and occasionally managed to enter and gather personal belongings. after the end of the first truce in mid-july, al-birwa was captured by israel during operation dekel. the ala fought the israelis to recapture al-birwa, but by 18 july, the village was firmly behind israeli lines.