Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the recovery of the bodies of Judy Weinstein-Hagi, 70, and her husband Gadi Hagi, 72. Both were originally found in Gaza. The pair were murdered by Hamas militants in an unprovoked assault on Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. Their deaths became known to the public in early December 2023 when the kibbutz’s leadership shared the awful news with their community.
Judy and Gadi Hagi’s bodies were recovered by Israeli Forces from Khan Younis, a Palestinian city in southern Gaza. After the incident, during which Judy’s hand was broken with a hammer, she immediately called 911. She said that she and her husband had both suffered gunshot wounds. She sent a message to her family before her death, highlighting the couple’s strength and close ties with their loved ones.
Life and Legacy of Judy Weinstein-Hagi
Weizman-Hagi, who spent her life educating and caring for special needs children at Kibbutz Nir Oz, had her life abruptly ended. Her work included teaching English and providing meditation techniques to children and teenagers suffering from anxiety caused by the constant threat of rocket fire from Gaza.
Her surviving students and members of the local community continue to honor her memory. They admire her methods, her patient approach to building resilience among the most impressionable of minds. The impact of Judy’s legacy extends far beyond her time on the bench. She was a loving mother of two sons and two daughters and the proud grandmother of seven grandchildren.
Gadi Hagi: A Multifaceted Individual
Gadi Hagi Gadi was a retired chef who played jazz music as a young man. World-renowned for his culinary creativity, he helped put the kibbutz’s collective kitchens on the map. His love for jazz fed his artistic side in delightful ways, charming everyone around him with his artistic spirit and talent.
The couple’s life together was marked by mutual support and shared values, making their loss especially poignant for their family and friends. Iris Haggai Liniado, their daughter, expressed her grief in a poignant open letter on Facebook. She looked back on her parents’ experience with honest conviction.
Government Response and Community Mourning
The rush to recover Judy and Gadi Hagi’s bodies has unleashed an outpouring of grief across Israeli society. Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his condolences, stating, “Our hearts ache over this unbearable loss. May their memory be a blessing.” This feeling rings true among the extended community that continues to grieve their untimely deaths.
Beyond the emotional cost, the murder set off a fresh wave of debate over security and tranquility in the area. Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, criticized previous approaches to dealing with Hamas, stating, “You chose appeasement and submission,” and added that this path “does not lead to peace. Only to more terror.”
There is no happy ending for the Hagi family at this moment. Though they are deep in grief, they take solace in the beautiful legacy of Judy and Gadi’s love, dedication to their family and community. The news of these colorful lives lost is a troubling wake-up call that the violence continues in the area.
