Bodies Of 2 Israeli-American Hostages Killed In Oct 7 Hamas Attack Recovered. Who Were They?
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Netanyahu on Thursday announced that the remains of Judith Weinstein, 70, and Gad Haggai, 72, had been brought back to Israel in a special military operation
After more than 600 days, Israel has recovered the bodies of two Israeli-American hostages who were killed by Palestinian militants during Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza. The army said it recovered the remains of Weinstein and Haggai overnight into Thursday from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday announced that the remains of Judith Weinstein, 70, and Gad Haggai, 72, had been brought back to Israel in a special military operation involving the Israeli army and the Shin Bet security agency.
Both held dual Israeli and American citizenship, and Weinstein also had Canadian citizenship.
Who Were The Hostages Killed?
The couple were residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community near the Gaza border heavily affected by the October attack. Nearly a quarter of the kibbutz's residents were killed or taken hostage during the Hamas invasion.
Weinstein, born in New York, was an English teacher who worked with children with special needs and taught meditation techniques to help young people cope with trauma caused by rocket fire. Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician.
On the morning of the attack, the couple was taking a walk near their home when Hamas militants stormed the area. Weinstein managed to call emergency services to report that both she and her husband had been shot, and also sent a message to her family.
The Israeli military confirmed that Weinstein and Haggai were killed by fighters of the Mujahideen Brigades, small armed group allied with Hamas, during the October 7 attack and their bodies were recovered overnight from Khan Yunis, a city in southern Gaza. Their return provides closure for their family, who have thanked the Israeli military, the FBI, and governments of Israel, the US, and Canada.
The couple are survived by two sons, two daughters, and seven grandchildren.
The October 7 attack by Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and involved the abduction of 251 hostages. While many hostages have been released, 56 remain captive, with about a third believed to be alive. Israel has rescued eight living hostages and recovered dozens of bodies since then.
The conflict has caused severe casualties and destruction in Gaza, with more than 54,000 Palestinians reported dead, mostly civilians. Over 180 journalists have also been killed since the war began.
(With inputs from agencies)
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