In a bold operation on Tuesday, Israeli special forces successfully rescued a hostage who had been held in a tunnel in southern Gaza for 326 days by militants affiliated with Hamas.
The rescued individual, Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a 52-year-old Bedouin security guard from southern Israel, was taken to the hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israeli military, confirmed that the operation involved navigating a complex network of underground tunnels, though many details remain classified to protect the safety of other hostages and Israeli forces still operating in the Gaza Strip.
A military source informed Reuters that soldiers had been operating in the area where Alkadi was found, moving through an intricate underground system suspected to be used for holding hostages alongside militants and explosives.
“Farhan was found alone by the troops and rescued from the tunnel,” the official stated. “Lessons from previous encounters with hostages were applied in preparation for this operation.”
According to reports from Israeli media, Alkadi shared that he had been deprived of sunlight for almost eight months and had witnessed the death of a fellow hostage, who passed away beside him after two months of captivity.
Following the successful rescue, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Alkadi, commending the troops for their bravery and reaffirming Israel’s commitment to bringing back all remaining hostages.
“We pursue this goal through two primary methods: negotiations and rescue operations. Both require our military presence and relentless pressure on Hamas,” Netanyahu stated.
During their phone conversation, Netanyahu expressed his happiness in being able to speak with Alkadi. Alkadi responded, “I thank you for this work, for allowing me to see my family again. You have truly done sacred work. There are still others waiting.”
Alkadi was among those captured during a cross-border raid on October 7, when militants led by Hamas attacked several Israeli communities, including Kibbutz Magen near the Gaza Strip. The raid resulted in the capture of over 250 Israelis and foreigners and the deaths of approximately 1,200 people.
With Alkadi’s rescue, 108 hostages remain in Gaza, with around a third confirmed dead and the status of the others still uncertain.
This operation follows the successful rescue of four Israeli hostages in June.
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