By The Israeli military announced Tuesday that it has successfully rescued one of the hostages abducted during Hamas’ October 7 attack, which sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. This rare moment of joy comes amid months of grueling conflict and provides a glimmer of hope for the families of those still in captivity.
Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, was freed in what the military described as “a complex operation in the southern Gaza Strip.” The rescue took place in a tunnel, though specific details about the operation, including potential casualties or resistance encountered, were not immediately disclosed.
Alkadi, a member of Israel’s Arab Bedouin minority, was one of eight Bedouins kidnapped on October 7. He had been working as a security guard at a packing factory in Kibbutz Magen, one of several farming communities targeted in the initial Hamas attack. Alkadi is married to two wives and is the father of 11 children.
Israeli media captured the emotional moment as Alkadi’s family members sprinted through the hospital where he was brought for medical evaluation. His brother, Hatem, told reporters they witnessed Alkadi disembark from a helicopter and walk to the ambulance that transported him to the hospital.
“We’re so excited to hug him and see him and tell him that we’re all here with him,” a family member identified as Faez told Israel’s Channel 12. “I hope that every hostage will come home so the families can experience this happiness.”
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised the rescue operation as part of the army’s “daring and courageous activities conducted deep inside the Gaza Strip,” reaffirming Israel’s commitment to exploring every opportunity to bring the hostages home.
The October 7 attack by Hamas-led militants resulted in the abduction of approximately 250 people and the deaths of some 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has led to over 40,000 Palestinian casualties, according to local health officials, though this figure does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The conflict has also displaced 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and caused extensive destruction across the territory.
Currently, Israel believes 108 hostages remain inside Gaza, with more than 40 presumed dead. The majority of the others were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November, exchanged for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Including this latest rescue, Israel has now freed a total of eight hostages through military operations.
The United States, Egypt, and Qatar continue their efforts to broker an agreement for the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire. Negotiations are ongoing in Egypt, but there have been no signs of a breakthrough.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting criticism from hostage families and the broader public for failing to secure a deal with Hamas for their return. Hamas seeks to exchange the hostages for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the release of numerous Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants.
Last week, after recovering the bodies of six hostages in southern Gaza, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari acknowledged the challenges of rescue operations, stating, “We cannot bring everyone back through rescue operations alone.”
Source: apnews.com
