A Bedouin security guard, abducted by Hamas militants on October 7 and recently rescued from Gaza, has shared his harrowing experience of survival and the immense physical and psychological abuse he endured while in captivity.
Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, a father of 11, spoke to Israel’s Channel 12 in a candid interview, recounting the moments that led to his abduction and the cruel treatment he faced at the hands of his captors.
Alkadi, who worked as a security guard near Kibbutz Magen, was on duty when Hamas launched its attack on southern Israel. That day marked the beginning of a nightmare he would never forget.
As the invasion unfolded, his brother called him with a warning: Hamas terrorists were approaching the area. Alkadi quickly stepped outside to assess the situation, only to find himself face-to-face with armed militants.
“Just 100 meters from me, I saw three Hamas terrorists shooting in my direction and running towards me,” he recalled. “I threw down the phone and raised my hands.”
The militants, armed and relentless, closed in on him. One of them struck him with his weapon, while another kicked him to the ground. In moments, his hands were bound, and he was at the mercy of the invaders.
A Test of Loyalty and Faith
Despite the terror he felt, Alkadi demonstrated incredible resilience and resolve. When Hamas demanded that he help them locate Israeli Jews, he refused, even though doing so risked his life.
The militants, unconvinced that he was a Muslim, tested his knowledge of Islam and Arabic. They wanted him to show them where Jewish Israelis were hiding.
“They said: ‘Take us in your car and show us where the Jews are,’” Alkadi explained. “I said, It’s Saturday, I’m working. No one is here. No one is here. I played dumb, [so] even if they killed me, I wasn’t ready to do it.”
His refusal to betray his fellow Israelis spoke volumes about his loyalty to the community he had grown up in. For Alkadi, the Jewish and Bedouin populations of Israel were inextricably linked.
“Hamas saw I was really a Muslim,” he said. Yet, despite recognizing his faith, the terrorists viewed him as more of an enemy than the Jewish Israelis he refused to expose.
“To them, I’m more of an enemy than the Jewish Israelis,” Alkadi remarked. “We are one family, one people. No one can take this from us.”
Brutality and Abuse in Captivity
The brutality did not end with his abduction. Alkadi was taken to the Gaza Strip, where he endured days of suffering at the hands of his captors.
He was transported to Nasar Hospital in Khan Yunis, but instead of receiving proper medical treatment, he was met with derision and cruelty.
“Look, here goes our dog,” Gazans reportedly said as they saw him being taken into the hospital. The former hostage described the atmosphere in the facility as jubilant, with many Gazans seemingly celebrating the success of Hamas’s violent invasion.
“There were a lot of people there, and you could see their joy. They felt they had won,” he recounted.
The most disturbing part of his captivity came when he was subjected to surgery without anesthetic. This form of medical abuse left Alkadi permanently disabled. “I’ve been left disabled after Hamas’s assault,” he revealed during the interview, showing the scars of the ordeal.
Alkadi’s account is a chilling reminder of the indiscriminate cruelty that Hamas has been accused of inflicting, not only on Israelis but also on those they perceive as traitors or collaborators, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
A Nation United in Grief and Resilience
The abduction of Bedouins like Alkadi adds another layer to the complex reality of Israeli society, where diverse communities, including Jewish Israelis, Bedouins, Druze, and other minorities, coexist and often serve together in various capacities.
Alkadi’s ordeal underscores the deep bonds that tie these communities together, even in the face of adversity.
His refusal to aid Hamas and his declaration that the Jewish and Bedouin populations are “one family, one people” reflect a profound sense of unity and shared identity.
It is a sentiment echoed by many in Israel who see the attack by Hamas as not only an assault on the Jewish state but on the entire fabric of Israeli society.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in response to Alkadi’s rescue, expressed gratitude to the security forces for their efforts and emphasized the need for continued vigilance.
“We are committed to bringing home every Israeli citizen held by our enemies,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “We will not rest until all our people are safe.”
The Broader Implications of the Conflict
Alkadi’s story is just one of many harrowing accounts emerging from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Since October 7, when Hamas launched its attack on Israeli civilians and soldiers, the violence has escalated, drawing international condemnation and calls for a ceasefire.
The conflict has claimed thousands of lives on both sides, with many civilians caught in the crossfire.
The abduction of Israelis by Hamas has become a significant concern for the Israeli government, which is working tirelessly to secure the release of hostages.
The rescue of Alkadi and others offers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise grim situation, but it also highlights the immense challenges that lie ahead.
Hamas’s tactics, which include using hostages as bargaining chips and shielding themselves within civilian areas, have drawn widespread criticism.
Israel has vowed to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, but doing so without causing further harm to innocent civilians remains a formidable challenge.
A Community’s Strength Amid Tragedy
Alkadi’s story has resonated deeply with many Israelis, particularly within the Bedouin community, which has long been an integral part of Israeli society.
His resilience and refusal to betray his fellow citizens serve as a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit, even in the face of overwhelming darkness.
As he recovers from his physical and emotional wounds, Alkadi remains steadfast in his belief that the bond between Jewish Israelis and Bedouins cannot be broken.
“No one can take this from us,” he said, a statement of defiance against those who seek to sow division and hatred.
For Israel, the road to peace and security remains long and fraught with challenges. Yet stories like Alkadi’s remind the nation of its resilience and the enduring ties that bind its diverse communities together, even in the face of unimaginable suffering.
As the conflict continues to unfold, the bravery of individuals like Qaid Farhan Alkadi stands as a beacon of hope, illustrating that even in the darkest moments, the light of humanity can shine through.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members