(Ottawa) The family of the only Canadian citizen still missing after Hamas militants carried out a brutal attack on Israel has confirmed her death.
According to a relative, Judith Weinstein Haggai, 70, died on October 7, the day of the attacks in which 1,200 people died and around 240 others were taken hostage.
His body is being kept in the Gaza Strip, the family says.
Mme Weinstein Haggai was born in New York state, but came to Toronto at the age of three and moved to Israel 20 years later to live with her husband. She held Canadian, Israeli and American citizenships.
She lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz, located less than three kilometers from the Gaza Strip.
Kibbutz Nir Oz wrote in a statement Thursday that Mr.me Weinstein Haggai was a mother of four, grandmother of seven, and that she “led numerous initiatives to advance peace in the region.”
Mme Weinstein Haggai was a volunteer who helped both Palestinians and Israelis. She made puppets to help teach students English and often posted haikus and meditation videos on YouTube.
The kibbutz noted that she also taught mindfulness to children and adolescents who suffer from anxiety related to rocket fire from Gaza.
Last week, authorities confirmed the family’s suspicions that her husband Gadi Haggai, 73, had died on October 7, although relatives still held out hope that Mme Weinstein Haggai would be released.
The Center for Jewish and Israel Affairs said Jews across Canada were heartbroken, after praying that Mme Weinstein Haggai is still alive.