An Israeli hostage, Qaid Farhad Alkadi, was rescued from Gaza and welcomed back as a hero in his small village of Khirbet Karkur. However, the joyous occasion was overshadowed by the looming threat of demolition that the village faces. Alkadi, a Bedouin Arab, belongs to a minority group in Israel facing discrimination, with many living in villages deemed illegal by the government.
The government plans to raze about 70% of Khirbet Karkur due to lack of permits in a protected forest area. Despite Alkadi’s family not receiving a notice, the community is facing uncertainty and displacement. Meanwhile, Alkadi’s return after 326 days in captivity brought celebration and a plea for all hostages to be freed.
The struggle of the Bedouin community reflects a larger issue of unrecognized villages lacking basic services. The government aims to relocate them to urban areas, but residents like Abu Tailkha prefer to maintain their rural lifestyle. Demolitions have increased, fueling tensions between the government and the Bedouin community.
As the country celebrates Alkadi’s return, the ongoing battle for recognition and rights of the Bedouin community remains unresolved, leaving a bleak future for villages like Khirbet Karkur.