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Israel’s military says it has rescued a hostage who was kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October.

Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, is in a stable medical condition and is being transferred for medical checks at a hospital, the IDF said, following a “complex operation” in southern Gaza.

The Hostages Families Forum said in a statement his “return home is nothing short of miraculous”. It said he “endured 326 days in captivity”.

Mr Alkadi is from the Bedouin community – a predominately Muslim area – and was working as a security guard at a packing factory in Kibbutz Magen, one of several farming communities that were attacked last October.

He has two wives and is the father of 11 children.

IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Mr Alkadi was rescued from an “underground tunnel following accurate intelligence”.

He said Israel would “pursue the return of our hostages through all means possible”.

About 108 hostages are believed to still be held by Hamas, about a third of whom are thought to be dead.

A large number of hostages were released in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel during a ceasefire last November.

(Clockwise) Chaim Peri, Avraham Munder, Alex Dancyg,Yagev Buchshtab, Nadav Popplewell and Yoram Metzger
The Hostages Families Forum/AP
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(Clockwise) Chaim Peri, Avraham Munder, Alex Dancyg,Yagev Buchshtab, Nadav Popplewell and Yoram Metzger. Pic: The Hostages Families Forum/AP

Last week, the IDF said it recovered the bodies of six hostages in an overnight operation in Gaza.

What is preventing a hostage deal?

Both recovery operations come as the United States, Egypt and Qatar try to mediate a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Sky News’ Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall said the ongoing negotiations are currently happening on a “much lower level” than they previously have been.

Smoke and flames rise from a house hit by an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Nuseirat refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip, in this still picture taken from a video August 27, 2024. Reuters TV via REUTERS
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Smoke and flames rise from a house hit by an Israeli strike in Nuseirat refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip. Pic: Reuters

Debris flies as smoke rises from a house hit by an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Nuseirat refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip, in this still picture taken from a video August 27, 2024. Reuters TV via REUTERS
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Pic: Reuters

“The main division between Israel and Hamas is the ongoing presence of Israeli forces in Gaza, particularly in the Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors,” Bunkall said.

He said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is insisting that forces remain in the territory for security and strategic reasons, as he wants to prevent Hamas from rearming using routes such as the Philadelphi corridor – the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt – which was used by the militant group for many years.

Read more from Sky News:
Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo ‘constructive’
Analysis: Great danger lies ahead

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“Hamas says they don’t want to do a deal unless Israeli forces withdraw. That is one of the main reasons why talks have continued to fail,” Bunkall said.

Over the last few days, Israel has issued several evacuation orders across Gaza as it continues to battle Hamas fighters in central and southern areas.

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The protesters wore blindfolds and tape over their mouths.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive since 7 October has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and fighters.

Most of the displaced population now live in the southern city of Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, in central Gaza.

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Ukraine war: 14 killed as Russian missile and drone attacks strike Kyiv – including American citizen

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Ukraine war: 14 killed as Russian missile and drone attacks strike Kyiv - including American citizen

Russian missile and drone attacks have killed 14 people in Kyiv overnight, according to Ukrainian officials.

A 62-year-old US citizen who suffered shrapnel wounds is among the dead.

At least 99 others were wounded in strikes that hollowed out a residential building and destroyed dozens of apartments.

Emergency workers carry an injured firefighter following Russia's combined missile and drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 17, 2025
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Pic: AP

Emergency workers were at the scene to rescue people from under the rubble.

Images show a firefighter was among those hurt, with injured residents evacuated from their homes.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as “one of the most terrifying attacks on Kyiv” – and said Russian forces had fired 440 drones and 32 missiles as civilians slept in their homes.

“[Putin] wants the war to go on,” he said. “It is troubling when the powerful of this world turn a blind eye to it.”

Emergency workers evacuate an injured resident following Russia's combined missile and drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 17, 2025
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Pic: AP

Ukraine’s interior minister, Ihor Klymenko, said 27 locations across the capital have been hit – including educational institutions and critical infrastructure.

He claimed the attack, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, was one of the largest on the capital since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

Drones swarmed over the city, with an air raid alert remaining in force for seven hours.

One person was killed and 17 others injured as a result of separate Russian drone strikes in the port city of Odesa.

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

It comes as the G7 summit in Canada continues, which Ukraine’s leader is expected to attend.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to hold talks with Donald Trump – but the president has announced he is unexpectedly returning to Washington because of tensions in the Middle East.

Ukraine’s foreign minister says Moscow’s decision to attack Kyiv during the summit is a signal of disrespect to the US.

Moscow has launched a record number of drones and missiles in recent weeks, and says the attacks are in retaliation for a Ukrainian operation that targeted warplanes in airbases deep within Russian territory.

Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko says fires broke out in two of the city’s districts as a result of debris from drones shot down by the nation’s air defences.

Read more from Sky News:
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A multi-storey apartment in Kyiv was struck. Pic: AP
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Pic: AP

On X, Ukraine’s foreign ministry wrote: “Russia’s campaign of terror against civilians continues. Its war against Ukraine escalates with increased brutality.

“The only way to stop Russia is tighter pressure – through sanctions, more defence support for Ukraine, and limiting Russia’s ability to keep sowing war.”

Olena Lapyshnak, who lived in one of the destroyed buildings, said: “It’s horrible, it’s scary, in one moment there is no life. I can only curse the Russians, that’s all I can say. They shouldn’t exist in this world.”

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Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London cancelled days after fatal crash

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Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London cancelled days after fatal crash

An Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London has been cancelled.

No explanation has been given for the cancellation so far, Sky News understands.

However, Indian-English language channel CNN News18 reported that the cancellation of the flight, which arrived from Delhi, was due to “technical issues”.

It comes after a UK-bound Air India flight catastrophically crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad airport in western India on Thursday, killing 229 passengers and 12 crew, with one person surviving the crash.

Among the victims were several British nationals, whose deaths in the crash have now been officially confirmed, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said as he shared his condolences on X.

Yesterday, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner – the same type as the aircraft involved in last week’s tragedy – had to return to Hong Kong mid-flight after a suspected technical issue.

Air India flight 159, which was cancelled on Tuesday, was also a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

It was due to depart from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.10pm local time (8.40am UK time). It was set to arrive at London’s Gatwick Airport at 6.25pm UK time.

Air India’s website shows the flight was initially delayed by one hour and 50 minutes before being cancelled.

As a result, passengers have been left stranded at the airport. The next flight from Ahmedabad to London is scheduled for 11.40am local time (7.10am UK time) on Wednesday.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

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Israeli tank shelling kills 51 people waiting for aid in Khan Younis, Hamas-run health ministry says

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Israeli tank shelling kills 51 people waiting for aid in Khan Younis, Hamas-run health ministry says

Israeli tank shellfire has killed at least 51 Palestinians in Khan Younis, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

Hundreds of others have been injured, with “dozens of critical cases” arriving at a medical complex.

It is feared that the number of fatalities will rise.

People react as casualties are brought to hospital. Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

The strikes took place as people waited for United Nations and commercial aid trucks in the southern Gaza city.

Witnesses said that Israeli forces carried out an airstrike on a nearby home before opening fire toward the crowd.

“Emergency, intensive care, and operating rooms are experiencing severe overcrowding,” a statement said.

Officials say medical staff “are operating with limited supplies of life-saving medicines” – with the ministry renewing an “urgent appeal” to increase aid.

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

Hours earlier, Donald Trump had joined other G7 leaders to call for a “de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza”.

The Israeli military is yet to comment on this incident.

On Monday, Gaza’s health ministry said at least 34 people were shot dead near food distribution centres.

This was the highest reported daily total since Israel and US-backed aid centres opened last month, with thousands of Palestinians moving through Israeli military-controlled areas to reach them.

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