The Kfar Etzion massacre took place amidst escalating violence as Jewish and Arab communities clashed during the turbulent final days of the British Mandate in Palestine. Kfar Etzion was a Jewish agricultural settlement founded in 1943, located strategically near the road connecting Jerusalem to Hebron. Leading up to the massacre, the settlement had been under siege by surrounding Arab forces, who opposed the establishment of a Jewish state. The residents faced dire circumstances, with supply lines cut off and the community increasingly isolated, but they remained committed to defending their home.

On May 13, 1948, as the situation worsened, Arab combatants launched an assault on Kfar Etzion, aiming to capture the settlement before the imminent Israeli Declaration of Independence. The defenders fought valiantly, but the Arab attackers were better organized and had greater numbers. Many of the Jewish defenders were killed during the assault, and those who survived the battle were subjected to brutal violence, including executions.

This event was crucial as it not only marked a significant moment of conflict but also foreshadowed the larger Arab-Israeli War that was set to follow the official declaration of Israel as a state. The massacre and other incidents of violence contributed to deep-seated animosities and fears on both sides, shaping the narrative of the conflict for decades to come.