Latest news with #JudithWeinsteinHaggai
Telegraph
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
IDF recovers body of Thai hostage
The Israeli military has recovered the body of a Thai national who was held hostage in the Gaza Strip. The remains of Nattapong Pinta were recovered in a special operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza. Mr Pinta was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the Oct 7 2023 attack on Israel, and he was killed in captivity shortly after being taken, the IDF said. He had been working as a farm labourer on the Nir Oz kibbutz in southern Israel, just a few miles east of Gaza's border, when he was abducted. The Thai national is the most recent hostage whose body has been found. On Thursday, the Israeli military recovered the bodies of US-Israeli dual citizens Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, and Gad Haggai, 72, who were both residents of the same kibbutz where Mr Pinta worked. Israeli authorities have said they believe all three of the recently found hostages were murdered by the terrorists who kidnapped them. The attack that Hamas launched on Oct 7 surprised and devastated Israel, with the terrorist group killing more than 1,000 people, including hundreds of security personnel, and taking over 200 hostages. About 30 Thais were abducted that day. Roughly two-thirds of those kidnapped on Oct 7 were subsequently released as part of deals between Israel and Hamas. Forty-six Thais have been killed during the conflict, the Thai foreign affairs ministry has said. The war between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the Oct 7 attack, continues to rage on in Gaza. Attempts to broker a ceasefire and peace deal have repeatedly hit roadblocks. Hamas has rejected proposed deals that do not guarantee a full Israeli withdrawal from the Strip and an end to the war. Mr Pinta, 36, who is survived by a young son and wife, was among those taken after he'd migrated to Israel as an agricultural labourer in 2022. At the time of the Oct 7 attack, there were about 30,000 Thai migrant workers in Israel. Many of them returned home primarily via government evacuation flights, and some vowed never to return, given the risks they faced due to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Since then, however, the Thai government has continued to grant permissions for its citizens to work in Israel. Thais remain the largest group of foreign farm workers in Israel, with about 38,000 in the country, according to Thai officials. There are 55 hostages remaining in Gaza, though only about 20 of them are believed to still be alive, according to Israeli authorities. Israel said its expanded offensive in the Strip, named Operation Gideon's Chariot, will increase the chances of returning the missing. However, many of the hostages' families have expressed alarm at the new tactic of seizing and holding territory, which follows heavy bombardment, and are urging Benjamin Netanyahu to make a deal with Hamas. The Thai Embassy has been notified about Mr Pinta, according to the prime minister's office. 'We express our deep gratitude and appreciation to our brave commanders and soldiers for this important and successful operation,' said a statement from Netanyahu's office. 'We will not rest and we will not be silent until all our hostages are brought home – both the living and the deceased.' 'We stand with Nattapong's family today and share in their grief,' an Israeli hostage support group said in a statement. 'While the pain is immense, his family will finally have certainty after 20 terrible and agonising months of devastating uncertainty,' the statement said. 'Every family deserves such certainty to begin their personal healing journey.'
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Witkoff urges Hamas to accept ceasefire proposal
Earlier on Thursday, the bodies of Judith Weinstein Haggai and her husband, Gadi Haggai, were recovered by the military. They held Canadian and American citizenships. US Envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday said that Hamas must accept the current ceasefire proposal to ensure the remaining hostages are returned. "Although those who were murdered can never be replaced, this closure is absolutely critical and a minimum of human dignity." The bodies of hostages Judith Weinstein Haggai and her husband, Gadi Haggai, were retrieved by the IDF in the early hours of Thursday morning in a special forces operation performed in collaboration with intelligence from the Shin Bet and the IDF, the military announced. They held American and Canadian citizenships. The Mujahideen Brigades kidnapped and held the bodies of the two in Gaza after they were murdered on October 7 in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Their deaths were determined in December 2023. IDF forces carried out the rescue operation under the Southern Command. The information that allowed their retrieval into Israeli territory was learned during an interrogation of a captured terrorist. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, are ongoing despite significant gaps, a source familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, met with senior Hamas officials based in Doha. These officials emphasized that Hamas demands US guarantees that negotiations for a deal, including a ceasefire, will continue after the initial 60-day period, the source told the Post. Efforts are being made to reach new understandings with Hamas before Eid al-Adha, which begins on Friday. In Doha, Bishara Bahbah, an envoy of Steve Witkoff, continued to engage with senior Hamas officials. The mediators, Egypt, Qatar, and the US administration, are working to advance a deal or at least secure agreements between the parties despite the challenges. Jerusalem Post Staff and Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
IDF recovers bodies of US-Israeli couple taken on Oct 7
Israel has recovered the bodies of a couple with US citizenship who were murdered on Oct 7 and taken into Gaza. The remains of Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, and Gad Haggai, 72, were recovered in an operation conducted overnight by the IDF and the Shin Bet internal security agency in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis. Their bodies have been brought back to Israel for forensic identification. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said: 'Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed. 'I would like to thank, and express appreciation to, the fighters and commanders for this determined and successful operation. We will not rest, nor will we be silent, until we return home all of our hostages – the living and the deceased.' The couple's deaths in the Nir Oz kibbutz during the Hamas-led massacre had previously been confirmed in December 2023. They used to take a walk around the kibbutz each morning, and it was then that they ran into the terrorists converging on the community, according to an IDF official. The official said the couple were murdered by Kitab al-Mujahidin terrorists, the same group that held Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were murdered in captivity, Israel has said. Both were dual US-Israeli citizens, but Mrs Haggai also had Canadian citizenship. In the early hours of the morning on Oct 7, Mrs Haggai was able to call emergency services and let them know that both she and her husband had been shot, and send a message to her family. She was born in New York and taught English to children with special needs at the Nir Oz kibbutz, a small community near the Gaza border. The kibbutz said she also taught meditation techniques to children and teenagers who suffered from anxiety as a result of rocket fire from Gaza. Mr Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician. Iris Haggai Liniado, their daughter, wrote in a Facebook post: 'My beautiful parents have been freed. We have certainty.' She thanked the Israeli military, the FBI and the Israeli and US governments and called for the release of all the remaining hostages. The couple are survived by two sons, two daughters and seven grandchildren, the kibbutz said. The Times of Israel reported an unnamed official as saying it was the interrogation of a terrorist captured in Gaza that led to the operation to recover their bodies. There are now 56 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Israel said its expanded offensive in the Strip, named Operation Gideon's Chariot, will increase the chances of returning the missing. However, many of the hostage families have expressed alarm at the new tactic of seizing and holding territory, which follows heavy bombardment, and are urging Mr Netanyahu to make a deal with Hamas. Hamas has rejected proposed ceasefire and hostage release deals that do not guarantee a full Israel withdrawal from the Strip and an end to the war. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
05-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
IDF recovers bodies of US-Israeli couple taken on Oct 7
Israel has recovered the bodies of a couple with US citizenship who were murdered on Oct 7 and taken into Gaza. The remains of Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, and Gad Haggai, 72, were recovered in an operation conducted overnight by the IDF and the Shin Bet internal security agency in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis. Their bodies have been brought back to Israel for forensic identification. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said: 'Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed. 'I would like to thank, and express appreciation to, the fighters and commanders for this determined and successful operation. We will not rest, nor will we be silent, until we return home all of our hostages – the living and the deceased.' The couple's deaths in the Nir Oz kibbutz during the Hamas-led massacre had previously been confirmed in December 2023. They used to take a walk around the kibbutz each morning, and it was then that they ran into the terrorists converging on the community, according to an IDF official. The official said the couple were murdered by Kitab al-Mujahidin terrorists, the same group that held Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who were murdered in captivity, Israel has said. Both were dual US-Israeli citizens, but Mrs Haggai also had Canadian citizenship. In the early hours of the morning on Oct 7, Mrs Haggai was able to call emergency services and let them know that both she and her husband had been shot, and send a message to her family. She was born in New York and taught English to children with special needs at the Nir Oz kibbutz, a small community near the Gaza border. The kibbutz said she also taught meditation techniques to children and teenagers who suffered from anxiety as a result of rocket fire from Gaza. Mr Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician. Iris Haggai Liniado, their daughter, wrote in a Facebook post: 'My beautiful parents have been freed. We have certainty.' She thanked the Israeli military, the FBI and the Israeli and US governments and called for the release of all the remaining hostages. The couple are survived by two sons, two daughters and seven grandchildren, the kibbutz said. The Times of Israel reported an unnamed official as saying it was the interrogation of a terrorist captured in Gaza that led to the operation to recover their bodies. There are now 56 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Israel said its expanded offensive in the Strip, named Operation Gideon's Chariot, will increase the chances of returning the missing. However, many of the hostage families have expressed alarm at the new tactic of seizing and holding territory, which follows heavy bombardment, and are urging Mr Netanyahu to make a deal with Hamas. Hamas has rejected proposed ceasefire and hostage release deals that do not guarantee a full Israel withdrawal from the Strip and an end to the war.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
IDF retrieves bodies of hostages Judith Weinstein Haggai, husband Gadi Haggai from Khan Yunis
The two were kidnapped on October 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz. The bodies of hostages Judith Weinstein Haggai and her husband, Gadi Haggai, were retrieved by the IDF overnight on Thursday in a special forces operation performed in collaboration with intelligence from the Shin Bet and the IDF. The Mujahideen Brigades kidnapped and held the bodies of the two in Gaza after they were murdered on October 7 in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Their deaths were determined in December 2023. IDF forces carried out the rescue operation under the Southern Command. After an identification process at the National Center of Forensic Medicine, together with the Israel Police, the Hostage and Missing Persons Team in the IDF's Personnel Directorate notified the family and the Nir Oz community. Weinstein and Haggai both held American citizenship, and Haggai additionally held Canadian citizenship. They left behind four children and seven grandchildren. 'We welcome the closure that we have been granted and the return for burial of our loved ones, who went out for a walk on that Black Sabbath morning and never came back," Nir Oz said in a statement. Nir Oz thanked the IDF and security forces who carried out the complex rescue operation. They also thanked "everyone who supported, struggled, prayed, and fought for us and for all of Israel," as well as the FBI, and the US and Israeli governments. "However, our hearts will not be whole until all 12 hostages from Nir Oz and all 56 hostages in total are brought back," the statement concluded. This is a developing story.
