sha'ab was captured by the israel forces (idf) on 19 july 1948 during the 1948 arab–israeli war. the villagers surrendered without a fight, and their village was subsequently depopulated in the palestinian exodus. still, sha'ab was found by the idf's ninth brigade still to be inhabited in december 1948, and the residents were expelled on foot. the village was the headquarters and hometown of abu is'af, leader of one of the most effective local militias during the war and someone viewed as a hero by many arabs in the area.