A Bedouin man who was held hostage in Gaza for greater than 10 months was rescued by Israeli forces on Tuesday, Israeli officers introduced.
Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, was rescued from an underground tunnel in a “advanced mission” by Israeli commandos appearing on intelligence, Israel Protection Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari mentioned in a information briefing Tuesday.
“He’s alive and again dwelling in Israel,” Hagari mentioned.
Alkadi, a father of 11 from south of Rahat, an Arab Bedouin metropolis within the Southern District of Israel, was taken hostage throughout Hamas’ Oct. 7 assaults whereas working in safety at a packing manufacturing facility in Kibbutz Magen in southern Israel, the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board mentioned in an announcement Tuesday.
The total particulars of Alkadi’s rescue weren’t instantly clear, with the IDF and Israel Safety Company, or the Shin Guess, saying in an announcement Tuesday that additional particulars couldn’t be revealed “attributable to concerns of the security of our hostages, the safety of our forces, and nationwide safety.”
They mentioned Alkadi was in steady medical situation and was being transferred for medical checks at a hospital. In a video shared by the IDF, Alkadi might be seen carrying a tank high and smiling as he shakes arms with the commanding officer of the Shayetet 13, Israel’s naval commando unit.
In a separate video shared on X by Israel’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs, members of the family of Alkadi may very well be seen operating to greet him at a medical facility.
The Soroka College Medical Heart mentioned he was airlifted to the hospital Tuesday afternoon.
“He’s absolutely acutely aware, and his general situation is sweet. He has already met with a member of the family in a really emotional reunion,” the medical middle mentioned in an announcement, including: “We ask to respect their privateness and dignity.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu additionally spoke with Alkadi over the cellphone following his rescue, his workplace mentioned in an announcement Tuesday.
“The Prime Minister congratulated Farhan and advised him that your complete Israeli persons are excited by his launch,” the assertion mentioned, including that Netanyahu “clarified within the dialog that he’ll proceed to do every little thing to return all our abductees dwelling.”
Israeli Protection Minister Yoav Gallant mentioned Tuesday’s operation “joins a collection of actions taken by the IDF that deliver us nearer to reaching the targets of this warfare.” He added that “Israel is dedicated to benefiting from each alternative to return the hostages dwelling.”
The rescue comes as Netanyahu faces mounting strain in Israel and on the worldwide stage to strike a cease-fire deal with Hamas that will deliver preventing in Gaza to an finish and safe the discharge of hostages who stay held there.
In an announcement on Tuesday, the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board, which represents households of these held hostage in Gaza, mentioned Alkadi’s rescue was “nothing wanting miraculous.”
However, the discussion board mentioned, “we should keep in mind: army operations alone can not free the remaining 108 hostages, who’ve suffered 326 days of abuse and terror.” The group referred to as for a cease-fire deal that will see hostages launched.
Ramped up efforts to barter a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas have been underway, however have to this point did not yield any outcomes.
In an announcement, a spokesperson for the U.S. Nationwide Safety Council mentioned it welcomed Alkadi’s launch.
“The US stays decided to see all hostages held by Hamas, together with Americans, freed and reunited with their households,” the spokesperson mentioned. “We’ll proceed to work tirelessly to finalize the ceasefire and hostage launch deal by means of ongoing talks in Cairo and Doha.”
Greater than 100 hostages are believed to stay in Hamas’ captivity following the Oct. 7 assaults by which some 1,200 individuals have been killed and round 250 others taken hostage into Gaza, in accordance with Israeli officers. At the least third of those that stay held in Gaza are believed to be lifeless.
Of the 108 hostages the discussion board talked about, no less than 4 are people who find themselves believed to have been held in Gaza since 2014. The remainder are believed to have been taken hostage on Oct. 7.
Dozens of hostages have been launched by Hamas throughout a brief cease-fire in November, whereas 4 hostages, together with 26-year-old Noa Argamani, have been freed by Israeli forces in a daring rescue operation in June that left a path of dying and destruction in its wake.
Three Israeli hostages, Alon Shamriz, Yotam Haim and Samer Talalka, have been mistakenly shot and killed by IDF troops in December throughout fight with Hamas within the Gaza district of Shijaiyah.