Washington
CNN
—
The household of Judi Weinstein Haggai and Gad Haggai spent the previous 11 weeks praying and pleading for the return of their family members, two Americans believed to be held hostage by Hamas.
On Friday, the information broke that Gad Haggai, a 73-year-old Israeli American, died whereas in Hamas captivity. His spouse Judi remains to be believed to be among the many hostages, and her household is clinging to the thought she is going to in the future be freed.
“My hope is that that Judi shall be launched and that she has obtained some form of medical consideration, that she’ll have the ability to come residence,” Andrea Weinstein, Judi’s sister, informed CNN in an interview this week earlier than information of Gad’s dying emerged. “That we are able to embrace her and be there for nevertheless she must heal from this horrific state of affairs that she’s needed to endure.”
Judi – a 70-year-old with Israeli, American and Canadian citizenship – is the final remaining American lady believed to be among the many hostages held in Gaza. Six different Individuals, all males, additionally stay in captivity.
It was initially believed Judi might be a part of the hostage deal for Hamas to free a minimum of 50 girls and kids that was struck final month. Whereas two Individuals have been launched underneath the settlement, Judi was not. Israel proposed a one-week pause within the conflict for the return of 35 hostage, however Hamas is refusing any discussions about prisoner swaps till Israel ends its army operation, CNN reported Friday.
Whereas US officers imagine there’s a pathway to get extra hostages launched, it seems Judi’s household can solely wait.
“Our hearts are breaking. To think about anybody harming my sister and her husband who’re such peaceable, loving, giving individuals is simply unconscionable,” mentioned Weinstein, who lives in New Haven, Connecticut. “It’s actually very troublesome to think about what’s been occurring and the way they’ve been harmed.”
Judi’s 95-year-old mom informed CNN in a press release, “I’m very frightened and anxious. I need to know if Judi is alive and if she’s being held hostage. It’s been insufferable not figuring out.”
The household has pressed for extra particulars about Judi’s whereabouts and situation however thus far little is thought. Her daughter, Iris Haggai Liniado, has been in contact with Israeli and US officers within the weeks because the October 7 assault, together with a gathering with President Joe Biden over Zoom earlier this month.
“We proceed to induce our leaders to do all the pieces they will to deliver our mother and father residence to us,” the Haggai household mentioned Friday. “This newest information of Gad’s dying solely reaffirms the urgency with which we have to deliver all the hostages residence.”
Biden mourned the dying of Gad Haggai in a press release Friday.
“Jill and I are heartbroken by the information that American Gad Haggai is now believed to have been killed by Hamas on October 7. We proceed to wish for the well-being and protected return of his spouse, Judy,” Biden mentioned. “We’re praying for their 4 youngsters, seven grandchildren, and different family members and are grieving this tragic information with them. And I reaffirm the pledge we now have made to all of the households of these nonetheless held hostage: we is not going to cease working to deliver them residence.”
Judi and Gad, who lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz close to the Gaza border for many years, have been on their day by day stroll on the morning of October 7. The couple despatched messages in a household WhatsApp group saying they have been laying in a subject and noticed rockets flying overhead as Hamas’ assault in opposition to Israel was in its early phases.
The household later realized Judi referred to as their kibbutz paramedic saying the couple was shot by militants on a motorbike, Gad extra severely, and wanted assist. However the ambulance was destroyed. Judi made one other name to Israel’s emergency companies, which was recorded, detailing what had occurred.
“To our data, nobody ever was capable of rescue them at that time,” Weinstein mentioned. “Nobody within the household has had any contact with them since October 7.”
The Haggai household mentioned Gad, a father of 4 and grandfather of seven, could be remembered as “as a gifted man, with sharp mind and a love for wind devices – which he performed since he was a younger baby.”
The household not too long ago launched two songs Gad recorded within the Eighties. Haggai Liniado, who drew the paintings for the digital launch, shared the songs with CNN, noting how the lyrics in his music “Huge Man” are strikingly just like what he endured the morning of October 7: “Right here within the fields, we’re stuffed with concern. Individuals are dying, and birds aren’t flying.”
Judi’s household describes her as a peaceable particular person. She’s vegan, writes day by day haikus and has a artistic spirit, they are saying, utilizing poetry and puppetry in her work with youngsters. She taught English for a number of years and ultimately included mindfulness into her classes.
“She wished to assist them about their anxiousness, about their stress … and she or he used to show Palestinians and Jews, and she or he taught everyone,” Haggai Liniado recounted to CNN earlier this month. “My mom was all about peace however taken hostage and shot. … All she does is sweet issues to individuals.”
Weinstein, the youngest of three siblings, mentioned she nonetheless admires and appears as much as her huge sister Judi.
“I nonetheless have a lot to be taught from her. Actually, actually each interplay is a present,” Weinstein mentioned. “She has a number of knowledge to share, and it may be one thing very refined or one thing philosophical and the way she lives her life. And it’s actually stunning to have discussions along with her and be along with her and hug her and write haiku along with her. And simply be taught, be taught from her.”
Weinstein mentioned she’s doing “a number of work to attempt to not go down that rabbit gap” of questioning what has occurred to her sister whereas in captivity. She’s turned to Judi’s apply of writing haikus to remain grounded amid the ache and uncertainty.
Weinstein mentioned Judi shared haikus she had written every day on-line. The latest haiku she shared spoke of recent connections and life. It was posted on-line on October 7.
“pulse accelerates
thoughts makes new connections
as Fall reveals her face”