IDF Demolishes Home of Hamas Operative Linked to Deadly 2024 Attacks
– Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) overnight demolished the home of Rafaat Dawasi, a senior Hamas operative in Jenin, in the West Bank village of Silat al-Harithiya. The demolition was carried out by forces from the Menashe Brigade.
Dawasi was reportedly responsible for aiding in attacks during 2024 that resulted in the deaths of Captain Alon Sacajiu and Yehonatan Deutsch. He was killed earlier in the year by Israeli forces.
The operation underscores Israel’s ongoing policy of demolishing the homes of individuals involved in attacks against Israeli citizens. This practice, while controversial, is intended to deter future violence.
Hamas, founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist organization with a military wing known as the Al-Qassam Brigades. The group has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, and many other nations.
The organization’s stated goals include opposition to the existence of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic state in its place, encompassing the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. While Hamas has, at times, indicated a willingness to accept an interim Palestinian state within those territories, it has not relinquished its broader claim to all of historic Palestine.
The demolition of Dawasi’s home comes amid a broader context of conflict between Israel and Hamas. A major escalation began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza.
Israel responded with a large-scale military offensive in Gaza, aiming to eliminate Hamas and secure the release of the hostages. As of late 2025, the conflict has resulted in a significant number of Palestinian deaths and widespread devastation in Gaza, including widespread displacement and malnutrition.
In October 2025, a ceasefire deal brokered by former US President Donald Trump led to the release of the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for the freedom of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli jails.
Prior to the October 7th attacks, Hamas was estimated to have around 30,000 fighters. Israel claimed in August 2024 to have killed more than 17,000 Hamas operatives, though this figure has not been independently verified.
Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, after winning Palestinian elections and subsequently ousting rival factions. The recent conflict has severely weakened the group’s infrastructure and operational capabilities.
The ongoing situation remains volatile, with the potential for further escalation. The demolition of Dawasi’s home is the latest in a series of actions taken by Israel in response to attacks originating from the West Bank and Gaza.
