3 years after Bedouin hero saved 30 people on Oct. 7, Israel demolished his family’s homes

Three years after Bedouin driver Youssef Ziadna rescued 30 Israelis from the Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival, Israeli authorities demolished homes of his family members in the unrecognized village of al-Ziadna. Ziadna, awarded Israel's highest civilian honor, said the recognition feels hollow as the crackdown on illegal construction continues. The demolitions are part of a wider enforcement campaign in the Negev, where 14,280 structures were demolished between 2023 and 2025, an 81% increase. Anger over demolitions drove higher Arab voter turnout in the October 27 election.

Three years after Bedouin driver Youssef Ziadna risked his life to rescue 30 Israelis from the Hamas massacre at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, Israeli authorities have demolished the homes of members of his family in the unrecognized village of al-Ziadna, near Rahat. Dozens more buildings face demolition orders. Ziadna, awarded Israel's highest civilian honor by President Isaac Herzog and selected to light a torch at the 2024 Independence Day ceremony, said the recognition feels hollow: "After everything we did on October 7, running around and risking our lives, doing whatever we could, none of it has any meaning. In the end, you're still an Arab." The demolitions affected branches of Ziadna's family that suffered devastating losses on October 7. His cousin Youssef al-Ziadna was abducted to Gaza with three children; two were released, but the father and son Hamza were killed in captivity. Another relative's son was murdered at Zikim beach. On Sunday, November 8, 2026, authorities posted eviction notices on five more homes, giving 30 days to vacate. The demolitions are part of a wider enforcement campaign under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, championed by outgoing National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Between 2023 and 2025, 14,280 unauthorized structures were demolished in the Negev, an 81% increase. A 2021 government-approved plan to incorporate al-Ziadna into Rahat with 1,900 housing units has not allocated any plots, with the Bedouin Settlement Authority blaming residents for delays and the mayor citing unresolved land claims. Anger over demolitions drove higher Arab voter turnout in the October 27 parliamentary election, with Ra'am party winning 85% of Rahat's vote and eight Knesset seats.