according to a 1945 census, the town's population was 3,710, and the village lands comprised a total land area of 60,585 dunums of which nearly half was cultivable. the population figures for this town also included the populations of nearby khirbets, or ancient villages. during the 1948 palestine war, the al-dawayima massacre occurred. according to saleh abd al-jawad an estimated 80–200 civilian men, women and children were killed. according to john bagot glubb, a un report said that 30 women and children were killed.