Farhan al-Qadi’s Resilience After Captivity in Gaza

Farhan al-Qadi’s Resilience After Captivity

Farhan al-Qadi, a remarkable individual who was rescued by Israeli forces from an underground tunnel in Gaza on Tuesday, shared his harrowing experience with friends and family. He recounted the lengthy periods spent in darkness, often isolated except for the presence of his captors. “He spoke about the darkness, not being able to see,” recounted Fayez al-Sana, a cousin who had the opportunity to speak with Mr. al-Qadi during his recovery at Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel. “But, thank God, he’s back with us, alive — it brought immense joy to all of us.”

Despite having lost considerable weight, Mr. al-Qadi exhibited a “strong personality” that played a crucial role in his endurance throughout the ordeal, according to Mr. al-Sana. “He possesses remarkable resilience, and his faith in God was unwavering — these two qualities helped him navigate through it all,” he added.

Clusters of Bedouin Arab friends, relatives, and well-wishers gathered in the corridors of Soroka, occasionally entering and exiting the secured ward where Mr. al-Qadi was recuperating. Among them were long-time family friends, such as Mazen Abu Siam, a local veterinarian, alongside newcomers like Ashraf Abu Mudaygham, who visited in hopes of congratulating Mr. al-Qadi on his safe return.

• “May all the hostages return soon, and may this war come to an end,” expressed Mr. Abu Mudaygham.

Mr. al-Qadi endured over 10 months in Gaza after being abducted during the Hamas-led attack on October 7 from the Israeli kibbutz where he worked. “We’ve been praying for 10 months for the freedom of all the hostages, including Farhan,” stated another relative, Fayez Abu Sehiban. He urged the Israeli government to expedite efforts to secure the release of both living and deceased hostages in Gaza.

• “We ask the government to negotiate swiftly to release all the captives and to put an end to this senseless war, which has claimed many lives on both sides,” implored Mr. Abu Sehiban.

Dr. Abu Siam, the veterinarian, mentioned that Mr. al-Qadi revealed he had been largely cut off from radio and television, leaving him with only a vague understanding of the events unfolding in the outside world. When discussing Hamas, the group responsible for his abduction, Dr. Abu Siam’s tone became noticeably stern. “What they did cannot be classified as war,” he asserted.

Dr. Abu Siam detailed a series of tragic instances where civilians were targeted on October 7, including the brutal killings of over 300 individuals at a rave in southern Israel. “They attacked indiscriminately, even targeting people dancing joyfully under the trees,” he lamented.