Israeli forces have successfully rescued Qaid Farhan al-Qadi, an Israeli hostage held by Hamas in southern Gaza. This marks the eighth captive to be brought back alive by Israeli troops since Oct. 7.
Al-Qadi, a 52-year-old Bedouin Israeli and father of 11 from Rahat, was working as a security guard at Kibbutz Magen on the Gaza border when he was captured during the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas terrorists. He was one of several Israeli Arabs taken hostage.
The rescue operation was carried out by Israel’s elite Shayetet 13 unit, who retrieved al-Qadi from a tunnel in Gaza. He has been taken to a hospital for examination, with reports stating that his condition is stable. Details of the military operation have been kept minimal.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces announced: “Today, the IDF and ISA rescued the hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi, aged 52, from Rahat, who was abducted by the Hamas terrorist organization into Gaza on October 7. Israeli security forces will continue to operate with all means to bring home the hostages.”
This rescue comes after the successful rescue of four hostages in central Gaza in early June, including Noa Argamani, who had become a symbol of the crisis. In total, Israel has rescued eight hostages in four separate operations. Over 100 hostages were freed in a ceasefire deal in November.
Israel has also recovered the bodies of some hostages who were killed in Gaza, with six bodies brought back in a recent operation. Examination of the bodies revealed that the hostages had been shot while in captivity in Gaza.
Approximately 100 hostages are still believed to be in Gaza, with at least 34 confirmed dead. Families of the hostages are calling for a negotiated deal to secure the release of the remaining captives, as talks between Israel and Hamas have faced obstacles.
The Hostage Families Forum released a statement saying: “Kaid’s return home is nothing short of miraculous. However, we must remember: military operations alone cannot free the remaining 108 hostages, who have suffered 326 days of abuse and terror. A negotiated deal is the only way forward.”
The Israeli military’s focus on rescuing hostages as a central war goal has drawn criticism, with concerns about other goals such as dismantling Hamas and addressing security threats. In December, al-Qadi’s relatives traveled to Los Angeles to raise awareness about the hostages and advocate for their release.
One of al-Qadi’s brothers expressed immense joy at the news of his rescue, saying: “Thank God, we are thankful to everyone and we hope to see him soon healthy. We’re so happy, very happy to get this news.”