In a intricate operation, Israel successfully liberates a 52-year-old captive from a tunnel situated in Gaza.
Kaid Farhan Al-Qadi, a Bedouin resident from Rahat in southern Israel, who holds Israeli citizenship, was successfully freed from a tunnel in southern Gaza by Israeli forces, as confirmed by an Israeli military spokesperson to CNN.
"His health situation is stable, and he's currently being examined at a hospital," the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated in their announcement. "His family has been informed of the situation, and the IDF is assisting them during this time."
The Hostages Families Forum, an advocacy group advocating for the release of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, expressed their joy over Kaid's return home.
"Kaid's homecoming is nothing short of amazing," they stated. "However, it's important to keep in mind that military actions alone won't be sufficient to liberate the remaining 108 captives, who've suffered 326 days of mistreatment and fear."
Over 200 individuals were captured by Hamas during their armed assault on Israel on October 7, resulting in over 1,200 Israeli casualties.
As of now, more than 100 captives remain imprisoned in Gaza, amid an ongoing Israeli conflict against Hamas, which has claimed over 40,000 Palestinian lives and injured more than 92,000, according to the health ministry in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant praised the "bold and heroic" actions that led to Al-Qadi's rescue. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his delight at the news.
Last week, the remains of six Israeli hostages were recovered from Gaza during a nighttime military operation in Khan Younis, Israeli officials claimed.
This is a developing story, more details to follow...
The Hostages Families Forum also urged for international intervention to help in the release of the remaining captives, as they believe that the situation in the Middle East requires a global approach. The world community should pay closer attention to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, where the fate of over 100 hostages, including Kaid, continues to hang in the balance.
