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Israeli military says it has rescued another hostage abducted in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack

Israeli military says it has rescued another hostage abducted in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack
Well, Qaed Farhan Al Khadi is the hostage in question. He is *** 52 year old father of 11 who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th while he was working as *** security guard at *** factory in Kibbutz again just along the border with Gaza. He was rescued according to the Israeli military in *** special operation carried out by Shay at 13. That's the Israeli equivalent of the Navy seals alongside other Israeli forces as well as forces from the Israeli. Shin bet the Domestic Intelligence Service, they call this *** complex operation that took place in southern Gaza. They say that Qaed Farhan Al Khadi is in quote stable medical condition and that he's being transferred for medical checks at *** hospital. His family has been informed that he was rescued in this operation and obviously this is welcome news for him. He is *** Bedouin man with Israeli citizenship who was taken on October 7th and over the last 10.5 months, he has endured captivity in Gaza. His family has endured the uncertainty of not knowing whether or not he was alive or dead, whether he would come back alive. And indeed today he has in what is *** relatively rare occurrence of an Israeli military operation that actually retrieves *** hostage alive. I believe he's the eighth hostage actually be rescued in an Israeli military operation and brought back to Israel alive. Obviously very welcome news for his family and very happy news in this country. Although we should note that there are still over 100 Israeli hostages still being held captive in the Gaza Strip. At least 30 of those are believed to be dead. The fate of the others still uncertain.
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Israeli military says it has rescued another hostage abducted in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack
The Israeli military said Tuesday that it has rescued one of the scores of people abducted in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, which ignited the ongoing war in Gaza.The rescue brought a rare moment of joy to Israelis amid months of grinding war but also another painful reminder of the scores of hostages remaining in captivity despite international efforts to broker a cease-fire agreement in which they would be released.The military said Qaid Farhan Alkadi was rescued from a tunnel "in a complex operation in the southern Gaza Strip," without providing further details. It was not immediately known if the rescue was made under fire or if anyone was killed or wounded during the operation.The 52-year-old 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.Israel's Channel 12 showed Alkadi’s family members sprinting through the hospital where he was brought after they received the news.His brother, Hatem, told reporters they saw him disembark from a helicopter and walk to the ambulance that took him to a nearby hospital for medical checks. Israeli media ran a photo of Alkadi appearing gaunt but smiling with his family."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."Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the rescue operation was part of the army's "daring and courageous activities conducted deep inside the Gaza Strip," adding that Israel is "committed to taking advantage of every opportunity to return the hostages."Hamas-led militants abducted some 250 people in the Oct. 7 attack, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were fighters. It has displaced 90% of Gaza's 2.3 million people from their homes and caused heavy destruction across the besieged territory.Israel believes there are still 108 hostages inside Gaza and that more than 40 of them are dead. Most of the rest were freed during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.Israel has rescued a total of eight hostages, including in two operations that killed scores of Palestinians. Hamas says several hostages have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and failed rescue attempts. Israeli troops mistakenly killed three Israelis who escaped captivity in December.The United States, Egypt and Qatar have spent months trying to negotiate an agreement in which the remaining hostages would be freed in exchange for a lasting cease-fire. Those talks are ongoing in Egypt this week, but there has been no sign of any breakthrough.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced intense criticism from families of the hostages and much of the Israeli public for not yet reaching a deal with Hamas to bring them home.Hamas hopes to trade the hostages for a lasting cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants.Last week, after the Israeli military recovered the bodies of six hostages in southern Gaza, Israel’s military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said the army was working to gather more intelligence for rescue operations. But he added that "we cannot bring everyone back through rescue operations alone."

The Israeli military said Tuesday that it has rescued one of the scores of people abducted in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, which ignited the ongoing war in Gaza.

The rescue brought a rare moment of joy to Israelis amid months of grinding war but also another painful reminder of the scores of hostages remaining in captivity despite international efforts to broker a cease-fire agreement in which they would be released.

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The military said Qaid Farhan Alkadi was rescued from a tunnel "in a complex operation in the southern Gaza Strip," without providing further details. It was not immediately known if the rescue was made under fire or if anyone was killed or wounded during the operation.

The 52-year-old 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.

Israel's Channel 12 showed Alkadi’s family members sprinting through the hospital where he was brought after they received the news.

This undated photo shows Kaid Farhan Al-Qadi, 52, who was held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza. On Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, the Hostages Families Forum announced he has returned to Israel. (The Hostages Families Forum via AP)
The Hostages Families Forum via AP
This undated photo shows Kaid Farhan Al-Qadi, 52, who was held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza.

His brother, Hatem, told reporters they saw him disembark from a helicopter and walk to the ambulance that took him to a nearby hospital for medical checks. Israeli media ran a photo of Alkadi appearing gaunt but smiling with his family.

"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."

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the rescue operation was part of the army's "daring and courageous activities conducted deep inside the Gaza Strip," adding that Israel is "committed to taking advantage of every opportunity to return the hostages."

Hamas-led militants abducted some 250 people in the Oct. 7 attack, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were fighters. It has displaced 90% of Gaza's 2.3 million people from their homes and caused heavy destruction across the besieged territory.

Israel believes there are still 108 hostages inside Gaza and that more than 40 of them are dead. Most of the rest were freed during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Israel has rescued a total of eight hostages, including in two operations that killed scores of Palestinians. Hamas says several hostages have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and failed rescue attempts. Israeli troops mistakenly killed three Israelis who escaped captivity in December.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have spent months trying to negotiate an agreement in which the remaining hostages would be freed in exchange for a lasting cease-fire. Those talks are ongoing in Egypt this week, but there has been no sign of any breakthrough.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced intense criticism from families of the hostages and much of the Israeli public for not yet reaching a deal with Hamas to bring them home.

Hamas hopes to trade the hostages for a lasting cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants.

Last week, after the Israeli military recovered the bodies of six hostages in southern Gaza, Israel’s military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said the army was working to gather more intelligence for rescue operations. But he added that "we cannot bring everyone back through rescue operations alone."