Israel has announced the recovery of the bodies of two hostages, Judih Weinstein and Gad Haggai, who were abducted by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack that initiated the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the remains of Weinstein and Haggai were recovered and returned to Israel through a special operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency.
“Along with all Israelis, my wife and I offer our deepest sympathies to the families. We are heartbroken by this devastating loss. May their memories be a blessing,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
Kibbutz Nir Oz, where the couple resided, had announced their deaths in December 2023. Both Ms. Weinstein and Mr. Haggai were in their early 70s.
On the morning of October 7, while taking an early walk near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, Hamas militants breached the border into Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and taking 251 hostages.
In the attack’s initial moments, Ms. Weinstein managed to contact emergency services, reporting that she and her husband had been shot, and also sent a message to her family.
The couple is survived by two sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren, according to the kibbutz.
Ms. Weinstein, a New York native, worked as an English teacher for children with special needs at Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small community near the Gaza border.
The kibbutz added that she also taught meditation to children and teens grappling with anxiety stemming from rocket fire from Gaza.
Mr. Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician.
Hamas militants are still holding 56 hostages, approximately a third of whom are believed to be alive. Most of the others were released in ceasefire agreements or other arrangements. Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages from Gaza and recovered numerous bodies.
Israel’s military campaign has resulted in the deaths of over 54,000 Palestinians, largely women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties.
The offensive has caused widespread destruction in Gaza and displaced about 90% of its population, estimated at roughly two million Palestinians.
