Musa Pasha ibn Hasan Ridwan

Who is Musa Pasha ibn Hasan Ridwan?

Musa Pasha ibn Hasan Ridwan was the Governor of Gaza and Jerusalem during the period of Ottoman rule in Palestine in the second half of the 17th century.

His reign extended from 1663, when he succeeded his deposed and executed brother Husayn Pasha, until the late 1670s. Musa was manipulated by the central Ottoman authorities in Istanbul to relinquish his control and was replaced by an official appointed by the central authorities. He was the last of a long line of members from the Ridwan dynasty to administer Palestine.

Although he was noted to be amiable by disposition, he established a strict regime that was much less tolerant to Gaza's Jewish and Christian communities. The French consul of Jerusalem at the time, Chevalier D'Arvieux believed this policy was put in place because of Musa's fears of being portrayed as pro-Christian or pro-French; his brother Husayn Pasha headed a very tolerant and successful administration and was believed to have been deposed, imprisoned and executed by the Ottoman authorities for that reason. Historian Dror Ze'evi described Musa as a "weak and unimpressive governor." After the deaths of his niece Shaqra Khatun and her husband Assaf Pasha, custody of their children Muhammad Bey, Ali Bey and Mahmanud Khanim was transferred to Musa who was put in charge of their inheritance.