After the UN Partition Plan was proposed on November 29, 1947, the Palestinian Arabs launched a civil war against the Palestinian Jews and besieged the four Jewish villages in Gush Etzion. 

The Jews in Gush Etzion were subsequently cut off from the rest of the Jewish blocs and were in dire need of medical supplies and food. The Haganah sent a number of convoys in order to aid the trapped Jews, but the Arabs attacked and thwarted them all.

On January 14, 1948, Arab forces launched an attack on the Jewish villages and left them in critical condition. As a result, the Haganah decided to send another convoy to aid the trapped villagers. On January 16, 1948, a convoy of 35 Haganah soldiers led by Palmach commander Danny Mas, set out help the besieged villagers. 

Before reaching their destination, the convoy was discovered by Arab villagers who attacked and killed all of the 35 members of the convoy.

After Israel's victory in the Six Day War, veterans of the Palmach established the village Nitiv HaLamed Hey (The Path of the 35), and erected a monument in their memory.