IDF Reclaims American-Israeli Couple’s Bodies From Hamas

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) personnel recovered the bodies of a missing American-Israeli couple Thursday in an overnight military operation in Gaza.

Forces involved in the operation located bodies of Judith and Gad Haggai, aged 70 and 73 respectively, 608 days after they were captured, according to the Wall Street Journal. The couple was attacked and murdered on Oct. 7, 2023, during a launched armed group attack on the Jewish state while they were on their morning walk in their community, Kibbutz Nir Oz, located near the Gaza border.

They were killed by the Palestinian militant group Kitab al-Mujahidin, who then took their bodies back to Gaza to be held with the other 251 hostages taken that day, dead or alive. There are still 56 hostages awaiting rescue or release, per JNS.

“Together with all citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families,” Israeli Prime Minister Benajmin Netanyahu said in a post to X, “The heart grieves for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed.”(RELATED: Israel Issues Ominous Warning To Greta Thunberg As She Sails for Gaza)

The Haggai’s both had ties to New York and moved to Israel 30 years ago for the peace the state provided, the New York Post