"I wouldn't wish my experience on anyone," said Qaid Farhan Alkadi, who was rescued from Hamas captivity on Tuesday after nearly 11 months. Upon leaving the hospital, Alkadi expressed his desire to see his mother and daughters, adding, "Whether you're Arab or Jewish, everyone has a family waiting for them. They all want to celebrate. I hope and pray this will end. I even told the prime minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] to 'put an end to this.' It's hard for everyone, Jewish and Arab alike."
The Alkadi family traveled from Soroka Medical Center in a jubilant convoy to their village near Rahat. A specially erected tent welcomed Alkadi with an outpouring of joy and emotion. Villagers brought food for the homecoming feast, which began with a communal prayer of thanksgiving. As he arrived, Alkadi declared, "I feel completely fine. Do everything possible to bring back the hostages."
As Alkadi departed the hospital, Professor Shlomi Kodesh, Director of Soroka, remarked, "Since Oct. 7, Soroka and the entire healthcare system have exemplified unity, with everyone collaborating towards a common goal – saving lives. Farhan endured the longest captivity among the released hostages, yet he arrived on his own feet in stable condition. It's a profound honor for me and the entire Soroka staff to witness these joyous moments and care for those returning. We continue to pray and hope for everyone's safe return."
Kaid, a 52-year-old father of 11, resided with his family in a village south of Rahat. For years, he worked as a security guard at the Ago packing house near Moshav Yesha. On Oct. 7, his family's attempts to reach him by phone were unsuccessful. It took several weeks before they received official confirmation of his abduction.
Shortly after Alkadi's arrival at Soroka Hospital, his brother Hatem reported, "He survived mainly on bread, and not every day. Despite this, he's in good health and doing well overall. He was worried about the rest of the family. He's seen some of his brothers and asked about our mother. I assured him that she's fine and everything is okay." Wednesday marked Alkadi's first meeting with his 90-year-old ailing mother since his capture.
