An Israeli hostage has been rescued by Israel Defense Forces troops from a tunnel in southern Gaza in what the army described as a “complex” operation.

Qaid Farhan Al-Qadi, from the Bedouin city of Rahat in the Negev desert, was abducted by Hamas from Kibbutz Magen, where he worked as a guard at a packing factory, during the Oct 7 attacks.

Mr Al-Qadi, 52, was found by commandos from Shayetet 13, an elite naval unit, in an operation conducted alongside IDF troops and the Shin Bet intelligence agency.

“No further details can be published due to considerations of the safety of our hostages, the security of our forces, and national security,” an IDF statement said.

The army said Mr Al-Qadi  was in a “stable medical condition and was being transferred to a hospital in Israel for medical checks. His family has been kept updated.

Mr Al-Qadi’s brother Farhan told the Kan public broadcaster: “We are very happy to receive this news. It is better than having a new child. We thank everyone very much, and hope to see him in good health.”

Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, said the operation was part of the IDF’s “daring and courageous activities conducted deep inside the Gaza strip”, adding: “This operation joins a series of actions taken by the IDF that bring us closer to achieving the goals of this war.”

The Hostages Families Forum commended the army for rescuing Mr Al-Qadi, saying “his return home is nothing short of miraculous”.

It added: “However, we must remember: military operations alone cannot free the remaining 108 hostages, who have suffered 326 days of abuse and terror. A negotiated deal is the only way forward.”

It is thought that 104 of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on Oct 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of 34 who have been confirmed dead. In November, 105 were freed in a week-long ceasefire, and the bodies of 20 more have been retrieved by IDF forces.