Israeli hostage rescued by troops in southern Gaza, IDF says

Israel’s military says it has rescued a hostage who was kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October.

Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, is in a stable medical condition and is being transferred for medical checks at a hospital, the IDF said, following a “complex operation” in southern Gaza.

The Hostages Families Forum said in a statement his “return home is nothing short of miraculous”. It said he “endured 326 days in captivity”.

Mr Alkadi is from the Bedouin community – a predominately Muslim area – and was working as a security guard at a packing factory in Kibbutz Magen, one of several farming communities that were attacked last October.

He has two wives and is the father of 11 children.

The Israeli military released footage showing Mr Alkadi moments after the rescue.

He appeared unshaven and gaunt but was seen sitting and smiling with soldiers before boarding a helicopter to a hospital.

Mr Alkadi arrived by helicopter at a hospital where he was taken for medical checks – doctors described his condition as stable.

His family rushed to the medical centre in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba to greet him.

IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Mr Alkadi was rescued from an “underground tunnel following accurate intelligence”.

He said Israel would “pursue the return of our hostages through all means possible”.

About 108 hostages are believed to still be held by Hamas, about a third of whom are thought to be dead.

A large number of hostages were released in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel during a ceasefire last November.

Last week, the IDF said it recovered the bodies of six hostages in an overnight operation in Gaza.

What is preventing a hostage deal?

Both recovery operations come as the United States, Egypt and Qatar try to mediate a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Sky News’ Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall said the ongoing negotiations are currently happening on a “much lower level” than they previously have been.

“The main division between Israel and Hamas is the ongoing presence of Israeli forces in Gaza, particularly in the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors,” Bunkall said.

He said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is insisting that forces remain in the territory for security and strategic reasons, as he wants to prevent Hamas from rearming using routes such as the Philadelphi corridor – the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt – which was used by the militant group for many years.

“Hamas says they don’t want to do a deal unless Israeli forces withdraw. That is one of the main reasons why talks have continued to fail,” Bunkall said.

Over the last few days, Israel has issued several evacuation orders across Gaza as it continues to battle Hamas fighters in central and southern areas.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive since 7 October has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and fighters.

Most of the displaced population now live in the southern city of Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, in central Gaza.

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