Freed Israeli requests a hostage agreement with Hamas
Kaid Farhan Elkadi, 52, who was kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel, has been rescued and is the eighth hostage freed by Israeli forces since the conflict began.
A Bedouin Arab man, Kaid Farhan Elkadi, 52, who was rescued in Gaza, has called for Israel to negotiate with Hamas to secure the release of all remaining hostages.
Mr. Elkadi was rescued on Tuesday in a "complex operation in the southern Gaza Strip," according to the Israeli military. Upon returning to his village in southern Israel on Wednesday, he expressed that his happiness would not be complete until all detainees on both sides are freed.
Reports reveal that Mr. Elkadi had been largely deprived of sunlight for eight months during his captivity.
Additionally, on Wednesday, Israel announced the recovery of the body of an Israeli soldier killed in the October attack by Hamas. The soldier’s name has not been disclosed per the family's request.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant praised the operation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the security service, emphasizing their commitment to bringing all hostages home.
Efforts are ongoing by US, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators to broker a ceasefire deal. This potential agreement would see Hamas release the 103 hostages still held, including at least 33 presumed dead, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Kaid Farhan Elkadi, 52, who was kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel, has been rescued and is the eighth hostage freed by Israeli forces since the conflict began.
He was released on Tuesday and returned to his village of Karkur in the Negev desert on Wednesday after being discharged from the hospital. Surrounded by reporters and community members, Mr. Elkadi appealed for the release of all hostages, regardless of their background.
He shared his message with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging efforts to end the hostage situation.
Mr. Elkadi described his captivity as "very cruel," recounting that one of his fellow hostages died next to him after two months of captivity. He also feared losing his eyesight during his time in captivity.
The Israeli military found him in an underground tunnel when he was alone, but further details of the rescue are being withheld for security reasons.
His cousin, Fadi Abu Sahiban, noted that Mr. Elkadi did not receive special treatment because of his Muslim faith, and he was isolated with no communication with the outside world. Mr. Elkadi lived in constant fear due to bombings and shelling.
Mr. Elkadi, a grandfather and former security guard at Kibbutz Magen near the Gaza border, was abducted during an attack that killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, over 40,530 people have died in Gaza.
Negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages are ongoing in Cairo but have not yet achieved a breakthrough. Two other Bedouin Arabs, Yousef Zyadna and Hamza, remain among the living hostages, while the body of a third, Mhamad el-Atrash, is still held by Hamas. Hisham al-Sayed, another Bedouin, has been held in Gaza since 2015.
