First American In Hamas Custody Found Dead oan

OAN’s Sophia Flores
11:48 AM – Friday, December 22, 2023

The first American hostage that was taken by the Islamic terrorist group Hamas during its raid into Israel on October 7^th, has been declared dead.

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On Friday, the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum announced that U.S. citizen Gadi Haggai has died.

“Gadi was a man full of humor who knew how to make those around him laugh. A musician at heart, a gifted flutist, he played in the IDF Orchestra and was involved with music his whole life,” the Forum said in a statement.

Haggai was taken alongside his wife, Judi Weinstein, while they were taking a morning stroll outside of Kibbutz Nir Oz.

They were then ambushed by armed terrorists on motorcycles.

According to Weinstein, who had her cell phone on her when the horrors first striked, she was shot in the arm and wounded in the face while her 73-year old husband was shot in the head.

“She said they were shot by terrorists on a motorcycle and that my dad was wounded really bad,” their daughter Iris Weinstein Haggain said.

That was the last time anyone has been able to contact the couple.

It is currently not clear how the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) determined that Haggai had died in captivity, as Hamas officials do not release death reports on its hostages. His body is currently in Gaza.

However, Weinstein is still believed to be alive in Gaza.

So far, four Americans have been released in part of a U.S.- negotiated ceasefire deal that was brokered with the assistance of Qatar and Egypt. It is believed that seven American hostages still remain in the hands of Hamas members.