IDF bodycam footage shows moment hostage was rescued from Gaza tunnel after 326 days in Hamas captivity

BODYCAM footage has captured the moment an Israeli hostage was heroically rescued from Gaza tunnels after spending 326 days in Hamas captivity.

Qaid Farhan al-Qadi was located by the rescue teams headed by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) who then launched a “complex” rescue mission to set him free.

The moment al-Qadi was found by the IDF rescuers inside Gaza

7

The moment al-Qadi was found by the IDF rescuers inside GazaCredit: IDF
Crack IDF troops bundled al-Qadi into a military chopper to fly back to Israel

7

Crack IDF troops bundled al-Qadi into a military chopper to fly back to IsraelCredit: Getty
A beaming al-Qadi was seen giving a thumbs-up to the IDF soldiers

7

A beaming al-Qadi was seen giving a thumbs-up to the IDF soldiersCredit: IDF
Al-Qadi being led towards doctors by Israeli soldiers

7

Al-Qadi being led towards doctors by Israeli soldiersCredit: AFP

The dad-of-11 was among the more than 250 civilians taken hostage by Hamas terrorists.

Dramatic footage released by the IDF shows the moments after he was found inside Gaza.

The clip shows crack IDF soldiers with assault rifles bundling al-Qadi into a military chopper.

He was seen wearing a specialised helmet and a body vest as the helicopter took off to Israel.

A beaming al-Qadi was then seen giving a thumbs-up to the IDF soldiers after spending almost a year in Hamas captivity.

Al-Qadi, who comes from the southern Israeli village of Rahat, is said to have “miraculously” escaped from the tunnels after he reportedly gave Hamas savages the slip.

However, it remains unclear exactly how he broke free from the heavily armed Hamas militia guarding him.

And how far he managed to flee before being rescued by the IDF is also unknown.

He may be the first person to escape Hamas captivity since the horrors of October 7.

Al-Qadi was working as a guard at a packing factory in Kibbutz Magen when he was abducted by Hamas savages who raided the Israeli territory before butchering innocent people.

He was found by commandos from the Israeli Navy’s elite Shayetet 13 unit in an operation led by the Shin Bet security agency and the Israeli Defence Force’s 162nd Division.

IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said: “This morning, Shayetet 13 troops, the Yahalom unit, and the Shin Bet rescued Farhan alive from a tunnel in southern Gaza.

“The troops reached the area thanks to precise intelligence.”

Freed hostage Noa Argamani, 26, didn’t see sunlight for 245 gruelling days before daring Israeli special forces rescue

Professor Shlomi Codish, the director of the Soroka Medical Center where al-Qadi is now recovering, told reporters arrived today at around 3:30pm for routine checks.

He was then allowed to see his family who had travelled to Beersheba to welcome him home.

Codish said the reunion was full of “emotional moments”.

Israel’s Hostage Families Forum told The Sun today: “It’s astonishing news – and the first good news to come out of Gaza for a long time.

“We welcome his rescue but need to stress that a deal is necessary to secure the release of the remaining hostages.”

“It’s still unclear exactly how he got out – whether he escaped or was rescued – but we’re delighted for him and his family.

“Military operations alone cannot free the remaining hostages who have suffered abuse and terror. A negotiated deal is the only way forward.”

Al-Qadi’s escape leaves 104 of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 in Gaza, including the bodies of 34 confirmed dead by the IDF.

In June, IDF’s largest rescue operation freed four Israeli hostages from eight months of Hamas’ captivity.

Noa Agramani, 25, along with Almog Meir 21, Andrey Kozlov 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40 were dramatically saved by the Israeli forces

The October 7 massacre

ON October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists stormed the border between Gaza and Israel, slaughtering over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping hundreds more.

Al-Qadi talking to a member of the Israeli Defence Force’s 162nd Division moments after he was found

7

Al-Qadi talking to a member of the Israeli Defence Force’s 162nd Division moments after he was foundCredit: AFP
Al-Qadi smiling with his family and friends in the hospital

7

Al-Qadi smiling with his family and friends in the hospitalCredit: Reuters
The brother and sons of Qaid Farhan al-Qadi pose after he was rescued by Israeli forces

7

The brother and sons of Qaid Farhan al-Qadi pose after he was rescued by Israeli forcesCredit: Reuters