Gaza Hostage Crisis Bodies of Israeli-American Couple Found

Israeli Military Recovers Bodies of Hostages in Gaza

In a somber development amidst the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, the Israeli military has announced the recovery of the bodies of two Israeli-American hostages, Judi Weinstein Haggai (70) and her husband Gadi Haggai (72), from the southern Gaza Strip. The couple, also Canadian citizens, were tragically murdered during the Hamas-led attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, by gunmen from the Mujahideen Brigades.

The Israeli military confirmed that the bodies were found overnight in the Khan Younis area of Gaza and subsequently transported back to Israel for forensic identification. This brings the number of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza to 56, with at least 20 believed to be alive.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences to the Haggai family, stating, "Our hearts grieve over this terrible loss. May their memories be blessed. We will not rest, nor will we be silent, until we return home all of our hostages – the living and the deceased." The couple's families shared their heartbreak, recalling how Judi and Gadi "went out for a walk on the morning of that cursed Saturday and never returned," expressing relief at the recovery of their remains for a proper burial in Israel.

The couple's last known moments were captured in a video shared with a group chat at the start of the October 7th attack. The video showed them taking cover in a field amidst incoming rockets and gunfire. Judi later informed loved ones that they had been shot, with her husband sustaining severe injuries. Their daughter, Iris Weinstein Haggai, recounted her mother’s account, stating that an ambulance dispatched to help them was struck by a rocket.

The kibbutz announced in December 2023 that Judi and Gadi had been killed on October 7th and their bodies were being held hostage. The recent recovery operation, an Israeli military official stated, was based on "precise intelligence" gathered collaboratively by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security service. While details of the operation remain undisclosed due to its sensitive nature, Israeli Army Radio reported that the intelligence stemmed from the interrogation of a captured Palestinian fighter.

The military official emphasized the ongoing commitment to returning all hostages: "We will keep doing the utmost for the mission of bringing our hostages back – the living, to reunite with their families, and the deceased to a dignified burial. We will deploy all the methods and tools at our disposal for this goal."

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has urged decision-makers to prioritize a new ceasefire deal with Hamas to secure the return of the remaining hostages, stating, "There is no need to wait another 608 agonising days for this. The mission can be completed as early as tomorrow morning. This is what the majority of the Israeli people want."

The recovery of Judi and Gadi Haggai's remains, while a tragic confirmation of their deaths, offers a measure of closure to their families and the nation. The ongoing efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages remain a top priority for Israel, and the international community's continued attention to this humanitarian crisis is crucial.

Tags: Gaza Hostages, Israeli Hostages, Hamas Attack, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel-Gaza Conflict, Hostage Bodies Recovered, Israeli Military, Netanyahu Condolences, Mujahideen Brigades, Weinstein Haggai, Khan Younis, October 7th Attack, IDF, Shin Bet

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c989rl23zzno