On December 22nd, The New York Post reported the following:
An elderly American Israeli with deep ties to New York has become the first US citizen confirmed to have died while being held hostage by Hamas terrorists, it was announced Friday.
Gadi Haggai, 73, was murdered by the terrorists 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.
“A musician at heart, a gifted flautist, he played in the IDF Orchestra and was involved with music his whole life.”
Kibbutz Nir Oz also said Friday the Israeli Defense Forces informed Haggai’s family that he had been murdered.
His body is still in the Palestinian territory.
The article concludes:
According to Israel’s official tally, 129 people are still in captivity in the Gaza Strip.
Of those, 22 are dead, the Israeli government says.
The forum said that between five and 10 of the hostages hold US citizenship. The US Embassy had no immediate comment.
Israel needs to finish what Hamas started.