US-Canadian-Israeli woman believed held in Gaza pronounced dead
A hardhit Israeli kibbutz on Thursday announced the death of Judih Weinstein — an American-CanadianIsraeli woman who had been thought to be held hostage in Gaza.
The news came six days after Weinstein's husband, Gad Haggai, was also pronounced dead.
Weinstein, 70, and Haggai, 73, were taking an early morning walk near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of Oct. 7 when Hamas fighters burst across the border into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping 240 others.
In the early hours of the morning, Weinstein was able to call emergency services and let them know that both she and her husband had been shot and send a message to her family.
Weinstein and her husband had been thought to be among the hostages still held in captivity in Gaza. But six days ago, the kibbutz announced that Haggai was killed Oct. 7 and his body was taken to Gaza.
On Thursday, the kibbutz said it had learned that Weinstein was also killed on Oct. 7 and her body is also being held in Gaza.
It was not immediately clear how Israeli authorities determined their deaths.
The couple are survived by two sons and two daughters and seven grandchildren, the kibbutz said.
President Joe Biden said he was “devastated” to learn of Weinstein's death, especially after hearing about the couple during a meeting with their daughter.
The families “have been living through hell for weeks. No family should have to endure such an ordeal,” he said in a statement.
Weinstein was born in New York and was an active member of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small community near the Gaza border where she taught English to children with special needs. The kibbutz said she also taught meditation techniques to children and teenagers who suffered from anxiety as a result of rocket fire from Gaza. Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician.
“Judy dedicated her life to serving others, spending years teaching English and using her passions for poetry, puppeteering, and mindfulness to empower children of all backgrounds,” her family said in a statement.