
Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of two Israeli-American hostages who were killed during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza. The victims, Judi Lynn Weinstein, 70, and Gad Haggai, 72, were abducted from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz and taken into Gaza, where they were later killed.
The Israeli military and internal security agency Shin Bet announced on Thursday that the bodies were found during an overnight operation in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The recovery was made possible through what officials described as “precise intelligence,” reportedly gathered from interrogations of captured militants.
Weinstein and Haggai were on a morning walk near their home in Nir Oz, close to the Gaza border, when Hamas militants launched their deadly assault. Despite being shot, Weinstein managed to call emergency services and also send a message to her family, alerting them of their situation.
Both victims were dual citizens of Israel and the United States. Weinstein, originally from New York, was an English teacher for children with special needs and taught meditation to young people affected by repeated rocket fire from Gaza. Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician.
Their deaths were officially confirmed in December 2023 by the Kibbutz Nir Oz community. The Israeli army says they were killed and taken by the Mujahideen Brigades, a smaller militant group that also reportedly abducted and killed Shiri Bibas and her two children.
Their daughter, Iris Haggai Liniado, expressed relief and gratitude in a message on social media, thanking the Israeli military, the FBI, and both governments for their support. She also urged for the immediate release of the remaining hostages. Israeli authorities believe around 20 of the 56 still held in Gaza are alive.
Weinstein and Haggai are survived by four children and seven grandchildren.
The October 7 attack by Hamas killed around 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and led to 251 hostages being taken. Since then, Israel has launched a massive military campaign in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 54,600 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Most of the victims are said to be women and children, though exact figures are unclear.
The war has displaced nearly 90% of Gaza's population. Meanwhile, international efforts to negotiate a new ceasefire and hostage release deal have stalled, as Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire, prisoner exchanges, and Israeli withdrawal—terms Israel has so far rejected.
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