The IDF rescued Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, on Tuesday after 326 days in Hamas captivity. Alkadi, a resident of the Rahat area, was taken hostage on October 7 while working as a guard at Kibbutz Magen near the Gaza border.
The rescue took place in a tunnel in southern Gaza, where Alkadi was found alone during a complex operation involving Shayetet 13, the 401st Brigade, Yahalom and Shin Bet forces under the command of the 162nd Division.
Alkadi, married and a father of 11, is in stable condition and was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation after being questioned by forces on the ground. His brother, Hathem, expressed the family’s relief, saying, "We are happy to receive the news and hope to see him recover."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Alkadi on his release, assuring him that the entire nation of Israel is moved by his freedom and reaffirming his commitment to bringing all hostages home.
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Rescued hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi with relative at Soroka hospital
(Photo: Meir Even Haim)
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised the operation, calling it part of the IDF's determined efforts to achieve all the war's objectives.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi highlighted the courage and determination of the IDF and Shin Bet forces in their ongoing efforts to rescue all hostages. President Isaac Herzog also welcomed the news, celebrating Alkadi’s return as a moment of joy for the entire nation.
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The family of rescued hostage Qaid Farhan Alkad arrives at Soroka hospital to meet him
(Photo: Herzl Yosef)
Alkadi is one of six Bedouins kidnapped in the October 7 massacre: Samer al-Talalqa, 25, who was accidentally shot to death by the IDF along with Alon Shamriz and Yotam Haim; and Yousef al-Ziadna, 49, from the Rahat area who was kidnapped with his children Hamza, 22, Bilal, 18, and Aisha, 17. Aisha and Bilal were released in the hostage deal with Hamas at the end of November last year. Hamas also holds Hisham al-Sayed, a Bedouin Arab Israeli civilian who has been held in the Gaza Strip since 2015.
The family of hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi arrives at Soroka Medical Center after his rescue from Hamas captivity
(Video: Herzl Yossef)
Last month, in a bid to assist the Alkadi family, the prosecutor's office agreed to a plea deal for his brother, Jama'a. the main defendant in one of the flagship cases against extortion of fees for protection. "There was a desire to make it as easy as possible for the accused and his family during the difficult period they are going through," the prosecutor's office explained at the time.
Alkadi is the eighth hostage to be rescued alive from the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war. In June, Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Shlomi Ziv and Andrey Kozlov were rescued from Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip in the daring Operation Arnon; In February, Fernando Simon Marman and Louis Har were rescued from Rafah. IDF soldier Ori Magidish was rescued with the launch of the Gaza ground incursion in late October.