American Woman Held Hostage by Hamas: Updates on Judi Haggai and Calls for Her Release

2023-12-23 20:32:00

The 95-year-old mother of the last American woman believed to be held hostage by Hamas says the wait is ‘unbearable’

Gadi Haggai, left, and Judi Haggai. right. (Provided by the Haggai family)

The family of Judi Weinstein Haggai and Gad Haggai spent the past 11 weeks praying and pleading for the return of their loved ones, two American citizens believed to be being held hostage by Hamas.

On Friday, news broke that Gad, a 73-year-old Israeli-American, died while held captive by Hamas. His wife Judi is still believed to be among the hostages, and her family clings to the idea that she will one day be freed.

“My hope is that Judi is released and that she has received some type of medical care, that she can return home,” Andrea Weinstein, Judi’s sister, told CNN in an interview this week before the news of Gad’s death. . “May we hold her and be there for whatever she needs to recover from this horrible situation that she has had to endure.”

Judi, a 70-year-old woman with Israeli, American and Canadian citizenship, is the latest American woman believed to be among the hostages held in Gaza. Six other Americans, all men, also remain in captivity.

It was initially believed that Judi might be part of last month’s hostage deal for Hamas to free at least 50 women and children. While two Americans were freed under the agreement, Judi was not. Israel proposed a one-week pause in the war for the return of 35 hostages, but Hamas refuses any discussion of prisoner exchanges until Israel ends its military operation, CNN reported Friday.

While U.S. officials believe there is a way to secure the release of more hostages, it appears Judi’s family can only wait.

“Our hearts are broken. To think that anyone would harm my sister and her husband, who are such peaceful, loving and generous people, is simply unconscionable,” said Weinstein, who lives in New Haven, Connecticut. “It’s really, really hard to imagine what’s been going on.”

Judi’s 95-year-old mother told CNN in a statement: “I am very worried and distraught. I want to know if Judi is alive and if she is being held hostage. It has been unbearable not knowing.”

1703367831
#fighting #Gaza #situation #civilians