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[citation needed] According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Unit 217[2] was established in June 1986 to deal with "security events" in the West Bank, especially in its densely populated civilian areas.

During the 2015–2016 violence wave, the unit was involved in the arrests of the killers of Eitam and Naʽama Henkin, Hafna Meir, and rabbi Yaʽakov Littman (sometimes spelled Litman) and his son.

[3] Roni Numa was a commander of the Duvdevan Unit before being promoted to aluf (major general).

The Netflix television series Fauda focuses on a fictional Israeli elite unit modeled after Duvdevan.