The Israel Defense Forces announced Tuesday that they had rescued a Hamas hostage taken during the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, where terrorists killed over 1,200 people. The hostage, an Arab Bedouin named Qaid Farhan Alkadi, was finally set free after 326 days in captivity following “a complex operation” in Gaza.
The IDF revealed few details of the rescue, but they did say the hostage had been held prisoner in a tunnel:
The military said Qaid Farhan Alkadi was rescued from a tunnel in a “complex operation” in the southern Gaza Strip, but provided few other details. It was not immediately known if the rescue was made under fire or if anyone was killed or wounded during the operation.
Alkadi was one of eight members of Israel’s Arab Bedouin minority who were abducted on Oct. 7. He was working as a guard at a packing factory in Kibbutz Magen, one of several farming communities that came under attack. He has two wives and is the father of 11 children.
The IDF posted the news to social media:
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.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 27, 2024
He is in a stable medical condition and is being transferred for medical checks at a hospital. His family has been… pic.twitter.com/lGBKa3aaaO
He is in a stable medical condition and is being transferred for medical checks at a hospital. His family has been updated with the details, and the IDF is accompanying them.
Israeli security forces will continue to operate with all means to bring home the hostages.
Related: HEARTBREAKING: IDF Recovers Bodies of Six Hostages Executed by Hamas
BREAKING: Hamas Claims to Have Killed One Hostage, Wounded Two Others
After his rescue, Alkadi was reunited with his family.
The Israeli military released footage showing Alkadi moments after the rescue. Unshaven and wearing a white tank top, he is seen sitting and smiling with soldiers before boarding a helicopter to a hospital where he was taken for medical checks. He appeared gaunt but doctors described his condition as stable.
As Alkadi’s family waited to see him in the hospital, one of his brothers held Alkadi’s infant son, who was born while he was in captivity and had not yet met his father, the brother said.
“We’re so excited to hug him and see him and tell him that we’re all here with him,” a family member who gave his name as Faez told Channel 12. “I hope that every hostage will come home so the families can experience this happiness.”
Kaid Farhan al-Qadi, a Muslim Israeli, was kidnapped by terrorists and taken to Gaza on October 7th.
— Emily Austin (@emilyraustin) August 27, 2024
The IDF rescued him this morning, & he is pictured below being reunited with his family🙏🏼
𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐞𝐰𝐬 & 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐬 pic.twitter.com/KvqZuIMCGE
Hamas kidnapped a Muslim-Bedouin father of eleven and held him captive in a tunnel for 326 days.
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) August 27, 2024
Today he was rescued by the IDF and reunited with his family.
Welcome home Farhan 💙 pic.twitter.com/DYHQcy6dKz
As some users pointed out, Alkadi is reportedly Muslim, proving that Hamas is willing to terrorize and torture folks of any religion.
President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris are desperately pushing for a ceasefire, but it's hard to imagine one being agreed to while there are still hostages being held by the terror group. How about Hamas releases each and every captive, then you can talk about ceasefires and a cessation of hostilities?
Join the conversation as a VIP Member