Hostage rescued from Gaza found alone in tunnel, Israeli military says

The Israeli military recently rescued a hostage, Qaid Farhan Alkadi, who was found alone in a tunnel in southern Gaza after being held captive by Hamas for 326 days. Alkadi, a 52-year-old Bedouin Arab from Israel, was abducted during the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. His rescue marks the first time since the war began that a living hostage has been found in Hamas' extensive underground tunnel network.

Israeli forces discovered Alkadi during a complex operation, which was part of ongoing military efforts to locate and free hostages. He was found unguarded, which the military has described as a fortunate turn of events. Following his rescue, Alkadi was transported to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, where he was reunited with his family, including a son born during his captivity.

The rescue is seen as a significant achievement for Israel, which still has over 100 hostages in Gaza, though it also highlights the ongoing tragedy of the conflict. Alkadi expressed his deep gratitude to the Israeli military and urged continued efforts to free the remaining hostages.