The remains of a U.S.-Israeli couple, abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, have been found over a year after they were reported dead in captivity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the bodies of Judi Weinstein, 70, and Gadi Haggai, 73, were retrieved during a special operation involving Israeli security and defense forces in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu expressed condolences to the families, stating, “Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed.” He commended the efforts of the fighters involved in returning the couple, asserting that Israel would not rest until all captives are returned, both living and deceased.
The families described the return of the bodies as both painful and a source of healing from uncertainty. They emphasized that it is the state’s responsibility to ensure everyone is brought home for healing to begin.
Moreover, the families urged decision-makers to take necessary actions to secure the release of the remaining 56 hostages. They remarked, “There is no need to wait another 608 agonizing days for this… A grave is a basic human right.”
The couple was among 251 individuals taken during a coordinated attack by Hamas. On that day, while walking near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, they were ambushed by armed operatives. Before being taken, Weinstein managed to call for help, reporting injuries to her arm and face, while Haggai was shot in the head.
Weinstein later texted her daughter in Singapore, informing her of the situation. Tragically, despite attempts by paramedics to reach her, an ambulance was hit by a rocket, and Weinstein succumbed to her injuries on the same day. Their bodies were subsequently taken to Gaza.
Initially, the Israeli Defense Forces informed Haggai’s family about his death a month later, and by December 2023, both deaths were confirmed. However, their remains remained with Hamas until this week.
According to reports, the couple’s niece mentioned in 2023 that they were not involved in any conflict, asserting the need to bring all innocents home.
The couple met in the 1970s while volunteering, as noted by the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum.
