Israeli security forces have recovered the bodies of two Israeli American victims, Judi Weinstein Haggai and Gadi Haggai, from the Gaza Strip, where they were killed during an October 7 attack by a small Palestinian militant group. The couple, in their 70s, had left their kibbutz for a walk when they were caught up in the violence.
Their bodies were retrieved from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, and bring the number of remaining hostages to 56, with 23 believed still alive. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has vowed to continue fighting to bring home all hostages, saying “every last one of them” deserves dignity and healing.
The Trump administration has welcomed the recovery, calling for an end to the conflict and a permanent deal that includes the release of remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinians jailed by Israel. A new proposal calls for a 60-day ceasefire with some exchanges of hostages, but Hamas has rejected it as “unacceptable.”
The ongoing military campaign in Gaza has killed over 54,000 people, including more than 250 civilians taken hostage. The blockade has left widespread hunger and supplies are still meager, with chaos reported at the start of a new aid distribution system.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/05/world/middleeast/israel-hostages-haggai.html