Judih Weinstein Haggai, the last Canadian considered missing amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, has been confirmed dead, according to her family. Initially believed to be a hostage of Hamas, it is now revealed that she and her U.S.-Israeli husband, Gadi Haggai, were shot near the Gaza border on October 7 during Hamas’s attack on Israel.
Kibbutz Nir Oz, where the couple were members, confirmed Gadi Haggai’s death earlier in December and recently issued a statement on behalf of the family, confirming Judih Weinstein Haggai’s death. Described as an English teacher specializing in children with special needs, she also taught mindfulness to children affected by ongoing rocket fire from Gaza. The statement highlighted her contributions as a poet, entrepreneur, and peace advocate in the region.
Weinstein Haggai, born in the United States, held U.S., Israeli, and Canadian citizenship. She moved to Toronto at the age of three. The couple settled on Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel in the mid-90s, where they made a home. During the October 7 attack, Hamas fired rockets while they were out on a walk near the kibbutz. Weinstein Haggai, a mother of four and grandmother of seven, sent a text message describing the attack, stating that a militant shot her husband, and she was less severely injured. Their bodies remain with Hamas.
The family expressed gratitude for the support from Canadian officials, while also addressing concerns about rising hate speech towards Jews and Muslims in Canada following the conflict. U.S. President Joe Biden extended condolences, describing the tragic development and reaffirming the commitment to aid in the release of remaining hostages.