Last week, when Israeli forces returned Farhan Al-Qadi—a Palestinian Citizen of Israel who had been abducted by Hamas to Israel—to his home in Israel, the announcement by the IDF Spokesperson identified him as a resident of the Bedouin town of Rahat. Like with many aspects of Bedouin life in Israel, the reality is not quite that simple.
Al-Qadi’s official address is in Rahat. His real home, however, does not have an official address. It is in an unrecognized Bedouin village. Unrecognized villages do not benefit from many municipal services, including paved roads, drinking water, and electricity.
The New Israel Fund works to address this inequality. At the outset of the Israel-Hamas war, NIF and partners provided water tanks, food, first-aid kits, and educational materials to residents of these villages, and compelled the state to recognize them as “populated” areas and provide some communities with mobile shelters for protection from rocket fire.
NIF’s efforts also function at the strategic level to empower the Bedouin community to more effectively advocate for their needs. For instance, NIF supports the Regional Council of Unrecognized Villages in the Negev, which serves as a central voice for the community.
Al-Qadi’s dramatic return—Israeli forces found him in of a tunnel in southern Gaza —brought the needs of this community into the mainstream Israeli media discussion as well as the international media (the New York Times ran the headline “Hostage’s Rescue Shines a Spotlight on Israel’s Bedouins”)—but more than anything, it was cause for a rare moment of national celebration.
“I can’t explain this feeling, it’s better even than the arrival of a new baby,” Al-Qadi’s brother told reporters outside of Soroka hospital in Beer Sheva. “Thank God, we are thankful to everyone and we hope to see him soon healthy. We’re so happy, very happy to get this news.”
The Bedouin community living near Gaza was deeply impacted by October 7. At least 17 were killed on that day, and eight—including al-Qadi—were taken to Gaza. Other members of the community demonstrated remarkable heroism in saving their fellow Israelis from Hamas. One of those stories is documented in this video.
Among the groups celebrating Al-Qadi’s return was The Hostage Families Forum, which also called for a deal to bring home the remaining hostages.
“He endured 326 days in captivity,” said the umbrella group. “His return home is nothing short of miraculous. However, we must remember: military operations alone cannot free the remaining 108 hostages. A negotiated deal is the only way forward.”