Israeli army announces release of Israeli hostage held in Gaza

The Israeli army announced on Tuesday, August 27, that it had rescued a Bedouin from southern Israel, who was being held hostage in the Gaza Strip, during a“a complex operation” in the south of the Palestinian territory.

The army and the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence service, “rescued the hostage Kaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, from Rahat”a Bedouin town in the Negev Desert, “who was kidnapped by the terrorist organization Hamas and taken to the Gaza Strip on October 7”the army said in a statement. The army did not give further details about the operation, citing “the safety of hostages, military forces and national security”.

Kaid Farhan Alkadi was working as a security guard at Kibbutz Magen, which borders the Gaza Strip, when he was abducted on October 7, according to the Hostages’ Families Forum.

“His health is normal.”

On X, the army specifies “that his health is normal” and that it was “transferred to hospital for further medical examinations. His family has been informed of the details”. “Security forces will continue to make every effort to recover the abducted persons”she adds.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed “the successful rescue” and described his release as “happy moment for the State of Israel and Israeli society”according to a statement from his office. Of the 251 people abducted that day, 104 are still being held in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the army.

“The other hostages cannot afford to wait for another miracle like this… a negotiated settlement is the only way forward.”argued the Hostages’ Families Forum on Tuesday. “We call on the international community to maintain pressure on Hamas to accept the agreement and release all hostages.”adds his press release.

Negotiations are underway between Israel and Hamas through Qatari, Egyptian and American mediators to reach a ceasefire in Gaza accompanied by the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The war was triggered by the October 7 attack that killed 1,199 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official data. Israeli retaliation killed at least 40,476 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas government’s health ministry, although this data has not been verified.