A Bedouin Arab hostage rescued from an underground tunnel in Gaza stated one in all his fellow detainees died subsequent to him throughout his time in captivity, a former Israeli official stated.
Kaid Farhan Elkadi was rescued on Tuesday in a “complicated operation within the southern Gaza Strip”, the Israeli army stated.
Mr Elkadi has not but spoken publicly, however the former mayor of a southern Israeli city stated the 52-year-old was hardly uncovered to daylight for eight months.
His cousin additionally stated Mr Elkadi was not handled otherwise in captivity regardless of being Muslim.
Mr Elkadi was kidnapped by Hamas throughout the 7 October assault on Israel and is the eighth hostage rescued by Israeli forces for the reason that begin of the conflict in Gaza.
The daddy of 11 is in a secure situation in hospital, the place he’s present process examinations.
Mr Elkadi advised his kin “about troublesome days, a really merciless captivity”, Ata Abu Medigam, ex-mayor of the southern Israeli city of Rahat, advised Israel’s Haaretz newspaper.
“He spoke about one of many hostages who was held captive with him for 2 months and died subsequent to him,” Mr Medigam stated.
Mr Elkadi had additionally began worrying about shedding his eyesight, Mr Medigam added.
“He would test his eyes to see in the event that they have been nonetheless working and functioning – he would put his fingers on his eyes to test his reflexes.”
The Israeli army stated forces had discovered Mr Elkadi in a tunnel “when he was alone”.
In an announcement, the army stated no additional particulars in regards to the rescue might be revealed “resulting from concerns of the protection of our hostages, the safety of our forces, and nationwide safety”.
However some particulars have been rising about Mr Elkadi’s time in captivity.
His cousin, Fadi Abu Sahiban, stated Mr Elkadi didn’t get preferential remedy resulting from being a Muslim.
“They did not give him concessions as a result of he is a Muslim. He says they let him pray, that is the one factor they allowed him to do,” he advised Haaretz.
Mr Elkadi had no manner of speaking with the surface world and was in fixed worry of bombs overhead, his cousin stated.
He “would hear the shelling of the IDF endlessly, he stated his physique was shaking”, stated Mr Abu Sahiban.
“Every single day he was certain was his final day, and never solely due to his captors, but in addition due to the shelling of the military. He stated that daily is a life-threatening state of affairs.”
In a cellphone name with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from hospital, Mr Elkadi stated: “I have been ready for this second. I swear to you,” including “there are different folks ready”.
Mr Elkadi, a grandfather of 1, is from a Bedouin village within the Rahat space of the Negev desert.
He labored for a few years as a safety guard at Kibbutz Magen, near the Israel-Gaza border, the place he was kidnapped 10 months in the past.
The Israeli army launched a marketing campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the unprecedented assault on southern Israel on 7 October, throughout which about 1,200 folks have been killed and 251 others have been taken hostage.
Greater than 40,530 folks have been killed in Gaza since then, in line with the territory’s Hamas-run well being ministry.
US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators are attempting to dealer a ceasefire deal that may see Hamas launch the 104 hostages nonetheless being held, together with 34 who’re presumed lifeless, in trade for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Oblique talks have continued in Cairo in current days, however up to now there was no signal of a breakthrough over key sticking factors. They embrace Mr Netanyahu’s demand that Israel preserve troops alongside Gaza’s border with Egypt, which Hamas has rejected.
Two different Bedouin Arabs – Yousef Zyadna and his son, Hamza – are among the many remaining hostages who’re nonetheless alive, whereas the physique of a 3rd, Mhamad el-Atrash, continues to be being held by Hamas.
One other Bedouin, Hisham al-Sayed, has been held captive in Gaza since 2015.