Israel recovers bodies of Canadian Israeli Judih Weinstein-Haggai and husband held by Hamas

The Israeli army has recovered the bodies of two hostages, the Canadian Judih-Haggai and her husband, the Israeli gadi Gadi Haggai, owned by Hamas, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.

The Israeli army said in a statement that the husbands’ and woman’s bodies were found in a special operation in the Khan Younis region in the Gaza Strip.

“With all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our sincere condolences to dear families. Our hearts hurt for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

Kibbutz Nir Oz announced the death of Weinstein-Haggai, 70, and Haggai, 72 and his two
small children.

Weinstein-Haggai grew up in Canada and held Canadian and American citizenship. She was born in New York State but moved to Toronto at the age of three, then moved to Israel 20 years later to live with Haggai. She was the mother of four children and a seven-year-old grandmother.

Weinstein-Haggai was Among several Canadian citizens Killed during the October 7 attacks.

After the recovery of two bodies, 56 hostages are still held by Hamas, with less than half that would be alive, according to Israeli estimates.

Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after the October 7 assault in which armed men led by Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, by Israeli accounts.

In the following fights, more than 54,000 Palestinians were killed, according to local health authorities.