Why Hamas believed the status quo was more dangerous than its 7 October gamble

Yousef Zyadna, a Palestinian-Israeli, was hailed as a hero after rescuing 30 Israelis from the Nova music festival attacks on October 7, 2023. However, three years later, Israeli authorities have demolished his home and other structures in his Bedouin community near the southern city of Rahat. The Israeli news site Local Call reported that 65 demolition orders are currently active in the neighborhood.

Zyadna, a minibus driver, drove to the festival site to assist people in escaping the violence. He was later awarded for his bravery at an event at Israel's Friends of Zion museum. Despite the demolition, Zyadna remains steadfast, stating that he has no regrets for his actions and that these are the values instilled in him. Zyadna's family members were also taken captive during the attacks, with two of them, Hamza and Yousef, dying in captivity.

Zyadna holds documents that suggest his family has lived in the area since the Ottoman period, but this fact has not prevented Israel from targeting his community. The demolitions are part of a broader Israeli campaign against Bedouin communities in the Negev, aimed at enforcing governance and pushing Palestinians off their ancestral lands.