An Israeli-American man taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 has died.
In a statement on Friday, Kibbutz Nir Oz announced Gadi Haggai's death and said Hamas continues to hold his body.
The 73-year-old retired chef and jazz musician was a father of four and grandfather of seven.
He was taken hostage with his wife, 70-year-old Judi Weinstein, who remains in Hamas captivity and is reported to be injured.
Haggai’s cause of death in Hamas captivity is unknown.
He is reported to be the first American citizen to die in Hamas captivity since October 7.
The Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum said in a statement: “Gadi was a man full of humour who knew how to make those around him laugh.
“A musician at heart, a gifted flautist, he played in the IDF Orchestra and was involved with music his whole life.”
On October 7, Haggai and Weinstein were on their regular morning walk around the fields of Kibbutz Nir Oz when the pair were shot by Hamas terrorists.
According to Haaretz, Weinstein said she had been shot in the arm and Haggai had been shot in the head.
Weinstein notified friends that they had been shot and that Haggai was critically injured.
A paramedic said that Weinstein had tried to call for medical help, but the paramedics lost contact with her.
Weinstein texted her daughter in Singapore – it was the last time anyone would hear from the elderly couple.
Kibbutz Nir Oz was one of the hardest hit communities during Hamas’s attack. Approximately one-quarter of the kibbutz’s 400 residents were killed or taken hostage during the attack.
It is believed that 129 of the 240 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza. Of those, the Israeli government has reported that 22 are dead.
105 civilians were released from Hamas captivity during a weeklong truce in November. Four hostages were released before the truce and one was rescued by troops.
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