Hamas kidnapped a second hostage on October 7, whom Israel was able to rescue this past Tuesday.

The person who was saved, Qaid Farhan Alkadi, is a 52-year-old Muslim father of eleven children who worked as security guard in the packing factory of Kibbutz Magen. The suspect hails from a village near the southern city of Rahat. 

Rolling through a tunnel, Alkadi was located by naval commandos from the Shayetet 13 unit during Operation Brother’s Keeper. The operation was led by the IDF Southern Command, in cooperation with the Shin Bet security agency and the Duvdevan unit of Division 162.

“Today, the IDF and ISA rescued the hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi, aged 52, from Rahat, who was abducted by the Hamas terrorist organization into Gaza on October 7,” the IDF announced on X. “He is in a stable medical condition and is being transferred for medical checks at a hospital. His family has been updated with the details, and the IDF is accompanying them. Israeli security forces will continue to operate with all means to bring home the hostages.”

A video from Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva showed Alkadi’s family rushing to see him.

“I can’t explain this feeling, it’s better even than the arrival of a new baby,” Alkadi’s brother rejoiced.  “Thank God, we are thankful to everyone and we hope to see him soon healthy. We’re so happy, very happy to get this news.”

But Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told X that “The IDF and ISA have rescued Qaid Farhan Alkadi from Gaza where he was held hostage, and brought him to his family in Israel. This operation was part of the IDF’s daring and courageous activities conducted deep inside the Gaza strip (sic). This operation joins a series of actions taken by the IDF that bring us closer to achieving the goals of this war. I would like to reiterate and emphasize: Israel is committed to taking advantage of every opportunity to return the hostages home to Israel.”

On October 7, Hamas killed over 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages. Israel reports that many have already been killed by the terrorist group, but over a hundred hostages remain in captivity. Several Bedouins were among at least 17 people killed on October 7, The New York Times said.