During 1948 war many men from Saffuryeh joined the fighting in other Galilee villages to prevent the fall of these villages in the hands of Jewish troops.

Saffuriyya (Sepphoris) was occupied during Operation Dekel, led by Ben Dunkelman, which was the largest Jewish offensive in the north of Palestine. Its objective was to capture Nazareth.

July 15, Israeli aircrafts bombed Saffuriyya (Sepphoris) and caused panic among the population. 

Saffuryeh (Sepphoris) fell in the hands of Israeli troops on July 16, 1948 after heavy shelling by air force and artillery where tens of people were killed. The village was defended by some Arab Liberation Army volunteers, and some local Palestinian militia, and some Syrian army soldiers.

Most of the villagers fled northwards toward Lebanon, only about 400 persons stayed.

The fall of Saffuryeh (Sepphoris) had a tremendous impact on the Galilee inhabitants, who saw in it the tragic end of the war. Therefore, most of the remaining villages surrendered without fighting.

July 16, in the evening Nazareth surrendered to the Israelis after a light fight.