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The 1948 Arab–Israeli War broke out immediately after Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948. Armies of Egypt, Transjordan (Jordan), Syria, Iraq and contingents from Lebanon and other Arab countries entered the British Mandate territory on 15 May, each pursuing its own objectives . Arab leaders claimed they were “liberating” Palestine, but in practice their agendas diverged sharply. Jordan’s King ʿAbdullah sought to annex the West Bank, while Egypt’s King Farouk aimed to stake a claim to Gaza. Syria and Iraq had pan-Arab ambitions of their own. These conflicting goals – underscored by secret British support for ʿAbdullah – severely…