Israeli Special Forces on Tuesday rescued hostage, Qaid Farhan Alkadi, after 326 days of Hamas captivity. 52-Year old Alkadi, previously believed to be dead by many, was freed from Hamas terror tunnels in southern Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) disclosed Tuesday afternoon.
The rescue operation, lead by the IDF Special Forces, was support by the Shin Set security agency (ISA). “Qaid Farhan Alkadi was rescued by Shayetet 13, the 401st Brigade, Yahalom, and ISA forces under the command of the 162nd Division in a complex operation in the southern Gaza Strip,” the IDF said in a press statement Tuesday afternoon.
Alkadi, who worked as a private security guard, was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7 from his workplace at Kibbutz Magen in southern Israel.
The military on Tuesday did not disclose further details of the operation due to secutiry considerations. “No further details can be published due to considerations of the safety of our hostages, the security of our forces, and national security,” the IDF said.
The Israeli news website YNET reported:
On Tuesday the IDF rescued alive hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, a resident of the Rahat area who was kidnapped on October 7 from Kibbutz Magen on the border with Gaza where he worked as a guard at the packing house. There are now 108 hostages in captivity, many of them believed to be dead.Alkadi was rescued alive around noon on Tuesday where he was being held alone in the Gaza Strip, in a complex operation in the southern Gaza Strip by Shayetet 13, the 401st Brigade, Yahalom and ISA forces under the command of the 162nd Division. He is in a stable medical condition and was transferred for medical checks at a hospital, after being questioned by the forces in the field.Alkadi is married and the father of 11. He lived with his family south of Rahat and was kidnapped while at work as a security guard.Hathem, Alkadi’s brother, said the family was “happy to receive the news,” of his rescue. “We’re thankful for everyone and hope to see him returning to health,” he added.Later, just before he went in to meet his brother at the hospital, Hathem said that he hopes that the joy that the family now feels will be felt by all the other families of hostages. “We hope that there will already be a deal and that all the hostages will come out and that all the emotions we feel – all the parents and families of the hostages will feel the same way.” The family was not sure until now if Alkadi was alive or dead, he said;”He was resurrected today.”Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said following the operation: “As part of the bold and determined operations of the IDF and Shin Bet forces deep in the Gaza Strip, our fighters succeeded in rescuing Farhan Alkadi and returning him to his family in Israel. This operation joins a series of impressive operational activities that bring us closer to achieving all the goals of the war.”
The rescued hostage appears to be in stable condition, the Times of Israel reports:
In a statement, the hospital says the rescued hostage underwent initial testing and is fully conscious and in overall good condition. The medical center says al-Qadi “has already met with his family members with great excitement. These are sensitive moments for the family and we ask people to protect their privacy.”
The operation comes days after Hamas rejected the U.S.-backed ceasefire deal.
Tuesday’s rescue mission being down the number of hostages in Hamas captivity to 108. Following the daring operation, the IDF vowed to bring back rest of the hostages. “We are doing everything we can to save all of the hostages. The IDF and ISA show bravery, determination and initiative in complex operations in the battlefield,” the IDF chief of general staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said after the recue mission.
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