The Israeli military announced a successful operation that led to the rescue of a Bedouin Arab hostage from an underground tunnel in Gaza. This rescue was carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet security service, targeting Kaid Farhan Elkadi, who was abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel.
Elkadi, 52, was rescued in a “complex operation” in the southern Gaza Strip and is reported to be in stable condition at a hospital where he is undergoing medical examinations. He becomes the eighth hostage to be freed by Israeli forces since the onset of the conflict in Gaza.
Images from the medical facility showed Elkadi joyfully reuniting with family members. His brother, Hatam, expressed relief, stating, “We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. We hope that all hostages will experience the same excitement.” Elkadi, a father of 11 and a grandfather, hails from a Bedouin community in the Negev desert and worked as a security guard at Kibbutz Magen before his abduction ten months ago.
IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed that Israeli commandos were able to rescue Elkadi from his captors based on accurate intelligence. Video footage released showed Elkadi conversing with soldiers shortly after his rescue and displaying signs of relief and hope.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his congratulations to Elkadi and stressed the government’s unwavering commitment to the safe return of all hostages. “We are working relentlessly to return all of our hostages through negotiations and rescue operations,” Netanyahu stated.
The successful rescue has been deemed “miraculous” by advocacy groups, but concerns remain for the remaining hostages. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum emphasized that military operations cannot fully address the situation and urged the international community to pressure Hamas into agreeing to a negotiated settlement.
In response to the earlier attacks on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages taken, Israel has initiated a military campaign against Hamas. Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry reports over 40,430 casualties since the conflict escalated.
Efforts by US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators to establish a ceasefire remain ongoing as they seek the release of the remaining 104 hostages, alongside negotiations for Palestinian prisoners. The talks continue in Cairo, although significant challenges persist.
Among the remaining hostages are two other Bedouin Arabs, Yousef Zyadna and his son, Hamza. The bodies of others, including Mhamad el-Atrash, are still held by Hamas, while another Bedouin, Hisham al-Sayed, has been under captivity in Gaza since 2015.
