Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, a Bedouin Muslim Arab-Israeli and father of 11 from Rahat, was rescued after 326 days in Hamas captivity following the October 7 massacre. His family is still in disbelief that he is back with them.
"I still can’t believe he’s here," said his son, Saad. "Dad is okay. I told him how much we love him and that we never stopped praying for him."
After meeting Alkadi at Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva, where he was taken following his rescue, his relatives shared that he had lost significant weight, surviving mostly on bread and not eating every day.
"He’s on his feet and speaking coherently," they said. "He thought about his family constantly and never lost faith that he would make it out. We don’t know how he survived, but he did, and that’s what matters."
The hospital reported that Alkadi is fully conscious and in good overall condition. Footage from Soroka shows his relatives running toward him as he arrived by helicopter. One of Alkadi’s brothers recounted seeing him walk off the helicopter on his own.
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Alkadi's brother Ismail holds rescued hostage's youngest son Habib
(Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen)
Alkadi’s youngest son, Habib, who was just two months old when his father was kidnapped, was brought to the hospital by his uncle Ismail. "We told him, ‘You’re going to meet your dad,’ and he just smiled, not fully understanding what’s happening," Ismail said.
"We are happy to receive this news," said Alkadi's brother, Hatem. "It's better than being born again. We hope to see him in good health."
Hatem described the emotional reunion, saying, "We are tearing up. He asked about the children, and we told him they are all fine. After 11 months, he's thinner, but he's alive. We hope this joy will come to all the hostages' families."
Another brother confirmed that Farhan walked off the helicopter on his own. Family friend Mazen Ibn Siam added, "Farhan had his 52nd birthday in captivity. He was kidnapped alive despite rumors of his death. After 326 days, we are overjoyed to have him back."
Alkadi's cousin Fathi said excitedly, "It's a good feeling. We're asking to see him, we don't believe it yet, we've been waiting for something for 11 months. We were surprised when they said he was released and we're waiting for him."
Faiz, another family member, said: "We received the happy news that Farhan came out healthy, God willing, and I now want to enter Soroka to update on his condition and hug him. It's so hard, I'm excited. We don't know the circumstances of the rescue. His brother received a message from the army that Farhan is safe and sound, and immediately my brother told me that his brother is in the north, so I will probably arrive before him, so we will be updated on his condition. It is so exciting! There are no words. Our hearts beat with much excitement!"
Friends and family greet Alkadi
(Video: Herzl Yosef)
Rahat Mayor Talal al-Krenawi expressed joy over Alkadi’s rescue. "We are all happy, all citizens of Israel are happy that Farhan is home," he said. "This gives hope that others may also return safely. Farhan is grateful and sends his thanks to everyone. He has been underground for a long time, but he’s starting to see the light, and that gives him hope."
Ali al-Ziadna, whose brother Youssef and nephew Hamzah remain in Hamas captivity and who knows Alkadi personally, shared mixed emotions. "We hope everyone comes back like Farhan did. I want to ask him if he saw Youssef in captivity," he said.
Farhan was abducted by Hamas from Kibbutz Magen, where he worked as a security guard. His rescue was carried out by elite IDF commando units and the Shin Bet. He was reported in good condition and was taken to the hospital for medical evaluation.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised the operation: "The IDF and Shin Bet successfully rescued Farhan from deep within Gaza and brought him home. This operation is part of our ongoing commitment to bring all our hostages back." So far, eight hostages have been rescued, with 108 still in Hamas captivity.
IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that the rescue was made possible by precise intelligence but did not elaborate on the details of the operation. "We must keep this operation confidential to avoid jeopardizing future efforts," Hagari said. "The operation was intelligence-driven, executed by mission-focused forces on the ground. We questioned Farhan in the field for initial information and will share more as we learn."
Interior Minister Moshe Arbel spoke with Rahat’s mayor, emphasizing that Alkadi's rescue exemplifies Israel's diverse society. "Israel has once again demonstrated its commitment to protecting the wide range of communities that live side by side. Farhan’s rescue is the Israeli story: a Jewish doctor with a knitted kippah treating a Muslim hostage held by Hamas terrorists, alongside Muslim doctors treating Jewish patients daily in Israel's healthcare system."