American-Israeli Teacher declared dead following Hamas attack in Kibbutz

Kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel: The 70-year-old American-Israeli teacher, Judi Weinstein Haggai, who was shot by Hamas terrorists during an attack on the morning of October 7 while out for a walk with her husband at Kibbutz Nir Oz, has been officially declared dead, as announced by her community on Thursday.

Judi Haggai's body is currently being held by Hamas in Gaza, alongside that of her husband, Gad Haggai, who succumbed to fatal injuries sustained in the same attack.

The couple, known for their passion for nature and sports, were on their regular sunrise walk when Hamas terrorists unleashed a barrage of missiles on Israel and breached the border.

Amid the chaos, as the air-raid siren blared, Judi communicated with her daughter through WhatsApp, informing her about the grave injuries sustained by her husband. The couple lay on the ground for cover.

"They came on the street. There were many motorcyclists with automatic weapons. They shot us. We laid down. They shot me in the face and hand," she recounted to the Magen David Adom emergency service.

The ambulance dispatched to their aid never reached them, as it was hit by gunfire and subsequently caught fire.

Judi's cousin, Ariel Duckler Levy, shared, "She just happened to be on this walk. She was in such good shape."

Originally from New York and having spent her childhood in Toronto, Judi moved to Israel over four decades ago. A mother of four and grandmother of seven, she dedicated decades to teaching English in the Western Negev, incorporating music, art, dance, and puppets into her classes.

Upon their return to Israel, Judi's daughter, who met them, confirmed that she did not see her mother in Gaza. However, on Thursday, it was officially confirmed that Judi Haggai had lost her life.

Describing her as a poet and entrepreneur committed to peace and friendship, Kibbutz Nir Oz stated, "She was a poet and an entrepreneur who loved to create and was dedicated to working for peace and friendship."

The statement also highlighted the significant toll the October 7 attack took on Kibbutz Nir Oz, with approximately 100 of its members either killed or taken captive.

Hamas' attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border resulted in at least 1,200 casualties. The current estimate suggests that 129 individuals, including men, women, children, soldiers, and foreigners, are held captive by Hamas in Gaza. Israeli authorities are actively identifying bodies and conducting searches for human remains, with some individuals still unaccounted for.

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