Judi Weinstein Haggai, a 70-year-old Israeli American woman, became the second confirmed American taken hostage by Hamas to die during the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel. Haggai’s husband Gadi, 73, was the first American to be reported dead in Hamas captivity last week.
Judi and Gadi were on a walk the morning Hamas launched its attack against Israel on October 7, and the couple was taken hostage from Kibbutz Nir Oz after they were shot by the terrorists. On Thursday, the couple’s community announced that Judi was murdered during Hamas’ attack and her body is being held in Gaza by the terrorists, the Times of Israel reported. The announcement from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Thursday was the first report of Judi’s death, which came just days after the community announced that her husband died in Hamas captivity.
“She was a poet and an entrepreneur who loved to create and was dedicated to working for peace and friendship,” Kibbutz Nir Oz said in a statement.
The husband and wife, who moved to Israel from the U.S. around 30 years ago, are survived by their children, who live in Colorado, Singapore, and Israel, according to Fox News. Judi and Gadi had four children and seven grandchildren, and Judi was an English teacher who focused on children with special needs, according to the Times of Israel. Judi also used meditation techniques to treat children suffering from anxiety due to years of rocket fire near the Gaza border.
