In a significant development, Israeli forces have successfully rescued Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a 52-year-old Bedouin man, from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip after 326 days of confinement. The complex operation, carried out jointly by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet intelligence agency, took place in a tunnel in southern Gaza.Alkadi, a father of 11 who was working as a security guard at the Kibbutz Magen when he was kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, is reported to be in stable condition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the forces involved, stating, ‘We are working tirelessly to bring back all our hostages. We achieve this through negotiations and rescue operations’.This rescue marks the eighth hostage freed alive by Israeli forces. However, Hamas is believed to still hold approximately 108 hostages, with at least a third presumed dead. The Hostage Families Forum welcomed the rescue but emphasized that ‘military operations alone cannot free the remaining hostages, and a negotiated deal is the only way forward’.Meanwhile, tensions continue to escalate in the West Bank. Reports indicate that a Palestinian was killed in clashes with Israeli settlers near Bethlehem, prompting Hamas to call for a ‘day of anger and mobilization’ in the West Bank. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of 624 Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, according to reports.As the conflict persists, international mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the US continue their efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, though no significant breakthroughs have been reported. The situation remains critical, with over 40,000 Palestinian casualties reported in Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Key points
- Israeli forces rescued Bedouin hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi after 326 days of Hamas captivity.
- Hamas still holds approximately 108 hostages, with at least a third presumed dead.
- Tensions in the West Bank continue to escalate, with reports of clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians.
- International mediators continue efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, though no significant breakthroughs have been reported.
Contradictions👾There are conflicting accounts of Alkadi’s rescue, with some sources suggesting he escaped before being found by Israeli forces, while others claim he was rescued directly from the tunnel.
