Israel announces rescue of 52-year-old hostage from Gaza

Israeli officials announced Tuesday that one of the hostages abducted during Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel has been rescued.

The Israeli Defense Ministry (IDF) said in a post on social media platform X that Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, was rescued from Hamas's custody. The military he is in stable medical condition and will be checked out at a hospital.

“Israeli security forces will continue to operate with all means to bring home the hostages,” the IDF wrote on X.

The Associated Press (AP) reported that Alkadi was working as a guard at a packing factory in Kibbutz Magen, one of the farming communities that was attacked on Oct. 7. He has two wives and 11 children, according to the AP.

The news wire also reported that Israel’s Channel 12 showed his family members running through the hospital he was taken to after hearing the news.

His rescue comes as the U.S. and its partners in the region have tried to push for a cease-fire deal in the Israel-Hamas war that would release the remaining hostages. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to the Middle East last week to push for a deal but left without any major agreement in place.

During the initial attack, which sparked the war in the region, about 1,200 people were killed and Hamas militants abducted approximately 250 people. The AP noted that Hamas is still holding about 110 hostages, but one-third of them are thought to be dead.

Israel has rescued a total of eight hostages so far, according to AP. More than 100 hostages were also released last year during a temporary cease-fire and hostage release deal.

The Associated Press contributed.