An American-Israeli man kidnapped in Gaza during an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants was killed in the attack, a group representing hostage families and the kibbutz community said Friday.
Gadi Hajji (73 years old) is considered the last confirmed dead among the hostages held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. Haggai and his wife were shot by Hamas gunmen as they stormed Kibbutz Nir Oz, where they lived. He is believed to have been seriously injured at the time.
He was kidnapped in Gaza along with his wife, Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, who is believed to be the oldest woman remaining among the hostages. She is also a dual Israeli-American citizen.
Forum for families of hostages and missing persons
The couple were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz while they were out on their “usual morning walk” on October 7, according to the Forum for Families of Hostages and Missing Persons. He said in a statement Announcement of his death. She described him as a “heart musician.”
The Forum for Families of Hostages and Missing Persons said that Judith “was able to inform her friends that they were seriously injured” by gunfire during the attack, describing her husband as “seriously injured.”
Kibbutz Nir Oz said his body is still being held by Hamas in Gaza. It was said that he was a father of four and grandfather of seven. The Israeli army also confirmed his death.
His daughter Iris he told CBS News in an interview in late NovemberDozens of hostages were released as part of an operation Temporary ceasefireShe said she saw video evidence that her father was indeed killed by gunmen, who then took his body. She said she had no news of her mother at that time.
“The hostages who were released had not seen her. They had not heard from her,” she told CBS News. “I have no proof of my mother's life. Nothing.”
On October 7, Hamas fighters streamed across the Gaza border and attacked Communities of southern IsraelAs a result, about 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians.
There were also about 250 people hostage During the brazen attack.
Since then, in light of the violent Israeli air, sea and land attack on Gaza, At least 20,000 peopleMost of them were women and children, according to the Ministry of Health in the Hamas-controlled area.
A temporary ceasefire in November led to… 105 hostages released – Israelis and some foreigners – in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons.
According to Israeli authorities, 129 people are still being held hostage in Gaza.
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