Israelis united in joy
The father of 11 is from a Bedouin community near the city of Rahat, and was working as a guard at a packing factory in Kibbutz Magen, when he was abducted on October 7.
The rescue of Israeli hostage Farhan al-Qadi overnight on Tuesday “reminds us all of the deep care and solidarity shared by all Israelis – Jews, Bedouins, Muslims and Druze alike”, Zionist Federation of Australia CEO Alon Cassuto said on Wednesday.
Al-Qadi was safely rescued by IDF special forces from a Hamas tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, after more than 10 months in captivity. The 52-year-old was found by commandos of the Israeli Navy’s Shayetet 13 unit and troops of the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit.
The father of 11 is from a Bedouin community near the city of Rahat, and was working as a guard at a packing factory in Kibbutz Magen, when he was abducted on October 7.
He was surrounded by family in joyous scenes at Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheba on Wednesday, where one of his brothers said, “I can’t explain this feeling – we are so happy!”
Following his rescue, 104 of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of 34 confirmed dead by the IDF.
Cassuto said, “Watching Farhan’s emotional reunion with his loving family was truly remarkable – a moment that touched hearts everywhere.
“The remaining hostages remain in our hearts and minds every single day, and our community stands resolute in our mission to bring each of them home.”
Commenting on social media, Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said al-Qadi “must be truly feeling what it means to be gifted a second life”, adding that al-Qadi’s family’s joy “is our joy”.
WITH TIMES OF ISRAEL
comments