the village was captured by israel's 7th brigade on 16 july 1948 during operation dekel. it was largely destroyed, with the exception of its school and its mosque, and most of its inhabitants were expelled, with the exception of its former druze inhabitants, who still live nearby. some of the inhabitants remained in israel as present absentees. on 1 march 1949 a un observer reported villagers from 'amqa amongst a large group of people expelled by the idf which arrived at salim in the west bank. he also noted other villagers from 'amqa in a group expelled on 26 march. in february 1950, the village was declared a closed area. the arab population remained under martial law until 1966.