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 stable condition and was 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 its hostages, the security of its forces, and national security.
According to Israeli media accounts, the IDF began its operation after receiving intelligence regarding the presence of living hostages.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Alkadi home and congratulated the IDF and the Israel Security Agency, also known as Shin Bet, for their success. Shin Bet is heavily involved in Israeli counter-terrorist operations.
The Jerusalem Post, citing IDF sources, said Alkadi had already given the IDF information, both when he was rescued and later at the hospital. That suggested an ongoing operation with additional goals, the newspaper said.
According to the Times of Israel, Alkadi is a guard at Kibbutz Magen’s packing factory and has two wives and 11 children. He was abducted from the nearby community of Mivtahim.
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 of the hostages.
Alkadi is the eighth hostage to be rescued alive. The IDF said there are 108 people, living or dead, still being held hostage.
Israel recently recovered the bodies of six hostages from the Khan Yunis area of Gaza. The bodies were found in an underground tunnel the IDF had captured.
The Hamas terrorist group, in its surprise attack across the border on Oct. 7, 2023, killed 1,200 Israelis, most of whom were civilians, wounded thousands, and took 250 hostages.
Israel invaded Gaza seeking to destroy Hamas.
About 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.
Netanyahu’s government faces international pressure to end the Gaza war and domestic pressure to bring the hostages home. Some Israelis prioritize hostage return over the elimination of Hamas and would make concessions to Hamas to get them home.
It’s unclear how many of the hostages are alive.
“We are working relentlessly to return all of our hostages,” he said. “We are doing this in two main ways: Negotiations and rescue operations. The two of these require our military presence on the ground and constant military pressure. We will continue to act until we return all of them home.”
