His spouse, Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, is “nonetheless held hostage” by Hamas, the assertion stated. She can also be an Israeli American.
Gadi Haggai was a father of 4 and grandfather of seven. He “was a person stuffed with humor who knew methods to make these round him giggle,” the Hostages and Lacking Individuals Households Discussion board stated in an announcement. “A musician at coronary heart, a gifted flutist, he performed within the [Israel Defense Forces] Orchestra and was concerned with music his complete life.”
The couple had lived at Nir Oz for greater than 30 years, their daughter Iris Haggai Liniado instructed The Washington Publish in October.
Haggai Liniado, who lives overseas, stated she noticed a purple alert within the space of the kibbutz on the morning of the assault and referred to as her mother and father, who had been out on their every day morning stroll. Her mom “instructed me issues are usually not nicely, they’re laying face down on the fields and so they see a whole bunch of rockets and so they hear gunshots,” she recalled.
She stated she later realized that her mom had referred to as the kibbutz paramedic through the assault, saying the couple had been shot and he or she feared that her husband could be lifeless. The ambulance was unable to achieve them because the kibbutz got here underneath assault, and the paramedic misplaced contact with them.
President Biden met final week with members of the family of Individuals being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas, and promised to maintain the households knowledgeable at each step of his administration’s efforts to safe their launch. Haggai Liniado was amongst those that attended, becoming a member of the assembly by video name.
On Friday, Biden provided his condolences to the Haggai household in a White Home assertion.
“Jill and I are heartbroken by the information that American Gadi Haggai is now believed to have been killed by Hamas on October 7. We proceed to hope for the well-being and protected return of his spouse, Judy,” Biden stated. “At present, we’re praying for his or her 4 youngsters, seven grandchildren, and different family members and are grieving this tragic information with them. And I reaffirm the pledge we have now made to all of the households of these nonetheless held hostage: we won’t cease working to deliver them house.”
At the least 1,200 folks had been killed within the Oct. 7 assaults, and greater than 200 had been taken hostage. Over 100 have since been launched.
Fewer than 10 Individuals stay in captivity in Gaza, in line with earlier statements by John Kirby, spokesman for the White Home Nationwide Safety Council.
