Israel has recovered the bodies of two citizens who were taken as hostages during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. The victims were identified as Judith Weinstein, aged 70, and Gad Haggai, aged 72. The Israeli military and the internal security agency Shin Bet conducted a special operation in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, where the remains were found and brought back to Israel.
The couple were residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small community near the Gaza border. They were out for a walk early in the morning when militants from Hamas entered Israel and launched a deadly attack on several communities and military bases. During this attack, Judith managed to call emergency services. She informed them that both she and her husband had been shot. She also sent a message to her family before losing contact.
Judith Weinstein was originally from New York. She worked as a teacher in Kibbutz Nir Oz, where she helped children with special needs learn English. She also taught meditation techniques to children and teenagers who experienced anxiety due to frequent rocket fire from Gaza. Gad Haggai, her husband, was a retired chef and also a jazz musician. The couple had four children and seven grandchildren. Their deaths were confirmed by the kibbutz in December 2023.
The October 7 attack by Hamas led to the deaths of about 1,200 people in Israel, most of them civilians. In addition, 251 people were taken as hostages and brought into Gaza. Since then, Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages and recovered the bodies of several others. At present, around 56 hostages are still being held in Gaza. Reports suggest that about one-third of them are believed to be alive. The rest have either been released through temporary ceasefire agreements or confirmed dead.
Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza in response to the attack. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 54,000 Palestinians have died as a result. Most of the victims were women and children, although the report does not say how many were fighters. The military campaign has caused massive destruction throughout Gaza, leaving around 90 percent of the population without homes. More than two million people now face poor living conditions with limited access to food, water, and medical care.
On Thursday, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli airstrikes killed at least ten more people in different parts of the Gaza Strip. These strikes hit areas where displaced people were staying, including locations in Khan Younis, Gaza City, and the town of Deir el-Balah. The Israeli military has not yet responded to these reports.
International leaders and human rights organizations have continued to call for a ceasefire and more humanitarian aid for Gaza. Families of the remaining hostages in Israel continue to gather in public areas, urging the government to take further steps to bring their loved ones home safely.
The recovery of Judith Weinstein and Gad Haggai brings a small sense of closure to their family and community. But it also serves as a painful reminder of the many lives lost in this ongoing conflict. As the situation continues, people on both sides are hoping for a peaceful solution and an end to the suffering.
