Israeli forces rescue hostage alive from Gaza

Israeli forces have rescued a hostage alive from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, from the Bedouin Negev city of Rahat, was rescued from a tunnel in southern Gaza in a “complex operation” by the IDF’s Shayetet 13, 401st Brigade and Yahalom, together with ISA forces under the command of the 162nd Division. He was alone at the time of his rescue.

The father of 11 is in stable condition and was undergoing medical testing at Soroka Hospital in Beersheva, according to the military. His family has been updated and the IDF is accompanying them.

Soroka said that “he is fully conscious and in good general condition, and has already met with a family member with great excitement.”

He was held in captivity for 326 days since being abducted by Hamas from Mivtachim on Oct. 7.

His rescue leaves the number of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza at 108, including 104 of the 251 hostages taken on Oct. 7, 34 of whom are known to be deceased, according to the military.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone with Alkadi, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Welcome home, Farhan Kadi. I congratulate the IDF and Shin Bet on another successful rescue operation. We are working tirelessly to return all of our abductees,” Netanyahu said in video remarks.

“We do this in two main ways: through negotiations and rescue operations. Both ways together require our military presence in the field, and unceasing military pressure on Hamas. We will continue to act like this until we bring everyone home,” the premier continued.

“Israeli security forces will continue to operate with all means to bring home the hostages,” the military said.

IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a statement, “We will not be able to publish everything about the rescue” to, among other things, protect the security of the hostages still in the hands of Hamas.

“The wonderful news of his return is a sign of light among the darkness for the families of the hostages and the people of Israel,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group advocating for the return of the abductees.

“We wish to thank the wonderful forces of our IDF who helped Qaid return home safely,” the forum said, adding that a ceasefire agreement “is the only way to secure the return of the remaining 108 hostages—the living for rehabilitation and the murdered for proper burial.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant commented on the rescue operation, saying, “Within the bold and determined operations of the IDF and ISA forces deep in the Gaza Strip, our fighters succeeded in rescuing Kadi and returning him to his family in Israel. This operation joins a series of impressive operational activities, bringing us to achieve all the goals of the war.”

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi completed a situational assessment following the rescue, that included the commander of IDF Southern Command and other senior military and intelligence officers.

“We are doing everything to save all the abductees. IDF and ISA forces demonstrate courage, determination and initiative in complex operations in the field,” Halevi said.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog congratulated the IDF and ISA “for a successful rescue.”

Hamas did not distinguish between Jew and Arab on Oct. 7, noted Herzog, adding, “This is a happy moment for the State of Israel and Israeli society as a whole. I wish for the immediate and speedy return of our 108 hostages who are being brutally held captive in Gaza.”

Last Tuesday, the IDF recovered the bodies of six hostages kidnapped on Oct. 7 from a tunnel in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

In an operation involving the IDF and ISA, the bodies of Avraham Munder, Yoram Metzger, Nadav Popplewell, Yagev Buchshtav, Chaim Peri and Alex Dancyg were located more than 10 months after the Hamas massacre.