Gadi Haggai: American-Israeli man becomes the first US citizen to die under the captivity of Hamas

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: An American Israeli man in his early 70s who had deep New York ties has been confirmed to be the first US citizen to lose her life while being under the captivity of Hamas. Gadi Haggai, 73,  was killed by the Palestinian militant group who are still thought to be holding his 70-year-old wife, Judi Weinstein, according to the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum representing the families.

“Gadi was a man full of humor who knew how to make those around him laugh,” the families group told the Times of Israel, adding “A musician at heart, a gifted flautist, he played in the IDF Orchestra and was involved with music his whole life.”

Gadi Haggai's family has been informed 

According to the New York Post, the Israeli Defense Forces informed Haggai’s family about the tragic outcome on Friday, December 22. His body is still in the Palestinian territory. Weinstein was able to call one of the kibbutz members for help, saying that she had been shot in the arm and was wounded in the face and Gadi had been shot in his head. 

The woman was also fortunate enough to text her daughter in Singapore, and a paramedic later told the couple’s children that Weinstein had called for medical help but they lost contact with her.

What did Gadi Haggai's daughter say?

“She said they were shot by terrorists on a motorcycle and that my dad was wounded really bad,” Iris Weinstein Haggain told the Times of Israel, adding “Paramedics tried to send her an ambulance. The ambulance got hit by a rocket.” The family had not heard from the elderly couple since.

“We know that they were badly wounded. We know that [Weinstein] still had the phone with her to be able to call and ask for help and provide details. But ever since then, we lost all contact with them,” the couple’s niece, Ofri Haggai, 47, told The Post last month.

The Israeli military recovered the phone hours later which gave them a glimpse of hope that the couple might have been among the more than 220 Israelis taken hostage during the brutal assault, instead of among those killed, Ofri said.

Gadi Haggai's mother grew up in Manhattan

Gadi, whose mother was born and raised in Manhattan and whose father is from Detroit, and Judi, a native of upstate Goshen, moved to Israel 30 years ago, finding peace in the Jewish land before the carnage tore their family apart. The victim leaves behind four children and seven grandchildren.

According to Israel’s official tally, 129 people are still in captivity in the Gaza Strip among which 22 are dead, per the Israeli government.