Israel demolishes home of Bedouin who rescued Israelis during October 7 attack

Jerusalem: Israeli authorities have demolished the family homes of Youssef Ziadna, a Bedouin driver who risked his life to rescue 30 Israeli citizens during the October 7, 2023, attack at the Nova music festival. The demolition targeted the family of a man whom Israel had hailed as a 'national hero' three years ago. President Isaac Herzog had honoured him with the country's highest civilian award, and he was also chosen to light a torch at the 2024 Independence Day ceremony. The authorities demolished homes in the unrecognised village of Al-Ziadna, near the southern Bedouin city of Rahat, citing alleged illegal construction. Dozens of homes in the village, which has a population of around 5,000, remain under threat of demolition.

The 50-year-old Youssef Ziadna, devastated by the government's action, spoke about his anguish to the Jewish news agency JTA. "Everything we did on October 7, running around and risking our lives, means nothing today. In the end, you are just an Arab," Ziadna said. His family was also among those affected by the October 7 attack. His relative, Yousef al-Ziadna, and his three children were taken hostage. Although two of the children were released, the father and his son Hamza were killed. The homes of the siblings of these hostages have now been demolished. In addition, the father of Abed al-Rahman, who was killed at Zikim Beach on October 7, has also received an eviction notice. Around 65 homes were served with demolition notices in October. A house built by Ziadna's relative for his son, who had been married for just two weeks, also had to be demolished. To avoid a fine, Ziadna was forced to demolish his own warehouse. Families who have lost their homes are now living in single rooms in their relatives' houses.

Around 90,000 Bedouin Arabs live in dozens of unrecognised villages in the Negev Desert, which accounts for nearly 60 per cent of Israel's total land area. They have lived in the region since before the establishment of Israel in 1948 and even before the British Mandate. Denied building permits and deprived of basic facilities such as drinking water, electricity and roads, they face the demolition of their homes on the grounds that they are 'illegal structures'. The eviction drive intensified under the leadership of Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right leader in Netanyahu's government and former National Security Minister. Between 2023 and 2025, a total of 14,280 structures were demolished in the Negev, an increase of 81 per cent compared with previous years. When concerns were raised that displaced families were being forced to spend their nights in schools, Ben-Gvir reportedly responded: "Prepare even more schools in the Negev, because I am going to demolish even more homes."

Anger over the demolitions contributed to a surge in Arab voter turnout in the parliamentary election held on October 27. Polling in Rahat rose from 60 per cent to 85 per cent, while the Arab party Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, secured eight seats in parliament with 85 per cent of the votes. Ziadna had hoped that his actions on October 7 would improve relations between the Israeli government and Bedouin citizens. However, when asked three years later whether those hopes had materialised, the man, who is struggling with severe psychological distress and health problems, replied: "The exact opposite has happened."