Israeli Military Says Oct. 7 Hostage Rescued From Gaza Tunnel

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that a hostage who had been held in captivity for 326 days was rescued “in a complex operation in the southern Gaza Strip.”

The IDF said Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, is in a stable condition and had been taken to a hospital for medical checks.

“His family has been updated with the details, and the IDF is accompanying them,” it said.

The Israeli military declined to release further information, citing “the safety of our hostages, the security of our forces and national security.”

Some Israeli media reports said that Alkadi had escaped in the Rafah area and was then rescued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he had spoken with Alkadi, praised troops for the rescue and said Israel would continue to work for the return of all the hostages.

“We do this in two main ways: through negotiations and rescue operations. Both ways together require our military presence in the field, and unceasing military pressure on Hamas,” he said.

The Hamas terrorist group, in its surprise attack across the border on Oct. 7, 2023, massacred 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, wounded thousands, and kidnapped 250 more.

Israel invaded Gaza seeking to destroy Hamas.

Around 40,000 Palestinians have died in the war, according to Gaza health authorities, which are controlled by Hamas and do not distinguish between civilians and terrorists.

Israel has estimated in recent weeks that the dead include 17,000 Hamas fighters. The group had an estimated 30,000 fighters at the war’s outset.