Kaid Farhan al-Qadi, 52, an Israeli Arab Muslim Bedouin hostage rescued by Israeli forces from a Hamas tunnel in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the “sacred” job the soldiers had accomplished.
The government press office released a recording of a telephone conversation that took place while al-Qadi, the first Israeli hostage to be rescued from the tunnel, was receiving treatment at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba after his rescue.
Prime Minister Netanyahu: “Hello, Farhan, my friend. Welcome back!”
Farhan Qadhi: “Hello, welcome. Hello Bibi, Abu [father of] Yay!
Prime Minister Netanyahu: “It's so nice speaking with you, Farhan.”
Farhan Qadhi: “I am happy too. I have been waiting for this moment. I swear it, Abu Yair.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu: “By the way, have you met your family yet?”
Farhan Qadhi: “Yes, two of my children are here.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu: “I want you to know that our hearts are touched for you and your family.”
Farhan Qadhi: “I'm thankful for this job. It got me to a situation where I could see my family and be here. It's a really sacred job. There are others out there waiting.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu: “I want you to know that just as we have not forgotten you, we have not forgotten any of us. We are committed to bringing everyone home, without exception.”
Farhan Qadhi: “Thank you so much. Abu Yair, you're welcome.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu: “Thank you. I want you to embrace your family and know that the entire nation of Israel embraces you and the others. We will take them.”
Farhan Qadhi: “Thank you. May it be God's will. Thank you so much.”
The released hostages also met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, whose office issued the following statement:
President Isaac Herzog met this evening with Kaid Farhan Al-Qadi, a resident of Rahat who was kidnapped on October 7 and rescued today by security forces from captivity in Gaza. Kaid Farhan is currently receiving treatment at Soroka University Medical Center.
The President was moved and said: “Dear Farhan, I am truly moved to hear your voice! Our brother has returned! Our brother has returned!”
Farhan thanked the president and replied: “I thank the State of Israel and the army for coming. The people are suffering. Please do everything you can to bring the people home. Work 24 hours a day, don't sleep until they come back. The people are really suffering. I can't imagine it. All of a sudden I heard someone outside my door speaking in Hebrew. I couldn't believe it. I'm so grateful. This is all thanks to our army. They are performing a sacred mission and risking their lives. Thank you so much, Mr. President.”
The President responded: “You went through hell there. It must have been difficult. The most important thing is to bring everyone home. I thank God that you are back and that now you can see your whole big family. We are very proud of the army, the Shin Bet and all the units that took part in this great operation. We have many brothers and sisters who are still there. We want them all to come home. The whole nation of Israel is with us. The whole country, the whole state. Welcome home, dear brother. And good health.”
Al-Qadi was reportedly in a emaciated but stable condition after what was described as a complicated rescue operation.
Many Bedouin Arabs, who are Muslim, serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and swear allegiance to the Jewish state.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday The show airs Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. ET) on SiriusXM Patriot. He is the author of “Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days,” which is available for preorder on Amazon. He also wrote,Trumpian virtue: The lessons and legacy of Donald Trump's presidency” is available on Audible. He is the 2018 recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
