during the 1936 revolt in palestine, the british army attacked sha'ab, demolishing 190 houses in the village. according to an eyewitness account, the british collectively punished the village for harboring a rebel who allegedly set off a roadside explosive that killed four british soldiers and injured three. a day prior to the demolition of the homes, the army rounded up around 200 of its adult male residents and led them to a valley outside the village. as they were being lined up, a rebel fighter positioned on a nearby hill began yelling and firing into the air, confusing the soldiers and causing sha'ab's detained men to disperse chaotically. one resident named hassan hajj khatib was killed.