ReutersThe Israeli army mentioned commandos rescued a Bedouin Arab hostage kidnapped by Hamas throughout an October 7 Israeli assault from an underground tunnel in Gaza.
Kaid Farhan Elkadi, 52, was rescued throughout a “advanced operation within the southern Gaza Strip” by the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) and the Shin Wager inner safety service, a press release mentioned.
The assertion mentioned that no additional particulars could possibly be launched “as a consequence of concerns of hostage security, pressure security and nationwide safety.”
Mr. Elkadi is the eighth hostage rescued by Israeli forces because the outbreak of the Gaza warfare. He’s presently present process examination in hospital and is in steady situation.
Pictures launched by the Soroka Medical Heart in Beersheba confirmed him sitting in a hospital armchair speaking to his household.
Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reported that he managed to flee his captors earlier than being rescued and that troopers have been looking for out whether or not he was being held with different hostages.
Mr. Elkadi’s brother Hatam, inform haaretz Mentioned he was “slightly skinny”.
“We instructed him every part was nice and everybody was ready outdoors for him,” he mentioned.
“We have now been ready for this second for a very long time. We hope that each one the hostages will get this second and that they may all expertise the identical pleasure and pleasure,” he added. “Could all of the hostages be returned and will all of the households really feel this sense.”
Mr Elkadi, a father of 11 and grandfather of 1, hails from a Bedouin village within the Rahat area of the Negev desert.
He labored for a few years as a safety guard at Kibbutz Magen, close to the border with Israel and Gaza, the place he was kidnapped 10 months in the past.
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari mentioned in a video announcement that he couldn’t reveal additional particulars in regards to the operation that led to his launch.
However he added that he may “share that Israeli commandos rescued [him] From underground tunnels, following correct intelligence.”
Footage launched by the Israel Protection Forces confirmed Mr Elkadi sitting down, smiling and speaking to troopersTogether with the commander of the 162nd Division shortly after being rescued.
A senior Israeli army official confirmed that troops have been working “in a fancy underground system the place hostages are suspected to be held”.
The official added that Mr Elkady was alone within the tunnel when he was found by Israeli troops when he was rescued.
ReutersIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned he had congratulated Mr Elkady in a telephone name and instructed him that each one Israelis have been moved by the information.
“We’re working tirelessly to repatriate all hostages,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying within the assertion.
“We do that primarily in two methods: negotiations and rescue operations. Each require our army presence on the bottom, in addition to sustained army stress.”
The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board described the rescue as a “miracle”.
But it surely emphasised that “army operations alone can not rescue the remaining hostages who’ve suffered 326 days of abuse and terror” and that “negotiation and settlement are the one means out.”
“We urgently name on the worldwide neighborhood to keep up stress on Hamas to just accept the proposed deal and launch all hostages.”
On October 7, an unprecedented assault occurred in southern Israel, killing roughly 1,200 individuals and taking 251 individuals hostage. The Israeli army launched an operation to destroy Hamas.
Since then, greater than 40,430 individuals have been killed in Gaza, based on the Hamas-run Gaza Well being Ministry.
U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators are attempting to agree on a ceasefire that might see Hamas launch the 104 hostages nonetheless being held, together with 34 presumed lifeless, in change for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Oblique talks have continued in Cairo in current days, however thus far there aren’t any indicators of a breakthrough on key points. These included Netanyahu’s request for Israel to station troops on the Gaza-Egyptian border, a request Hamas rejected.
Two different Bedouin Arabs – Yousef Zyadna and his son Hamza – is among the remaining hostages who remains to be alive, whereas the physique of the third hostage, Mohammed Atrash, remains to be being held by Hamas.
One other Bedouin, Hisham Mentionedhas been held in Gaza since 2015.
