President Joe Biden said Friday he was “heartbroken” by reports that American Gad Haggai was allegedly killed by the Palestinian group Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
It was previously believed that Haggai, a 73-year-old holder of American and Israeli passports, was taken hostage along with his wife.
“Jill and I are heartbroken by the news that American Gad Haggai is now believed to have been killed by Hamas on October 7th. We continue to pray for the well-being and safe return of his wife Judy,” the president said in a statement released by the White House.
According to the Israeli publication Haaretz, Jutit Weinstein, Haggai’s wife, is still being held hostage in the Gaza Strip.
Biden’s statement did not provide other details about what happened to Haggai.
“Today we pray for and mourn with them their four children, seven grandchildren and other loved ones over this tragic news,” Biden said in a statement.
According to Israeli estimates, the Hamas attack on October 7 killed 1,200 people and took 240 people hostage to Gaza. Israel’s response operation in Gaza has killed more than 20,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Strip Health Ministry.
“(Haggai) will be remembered as a gifted man with a keen mind and love for wind instruments, which he played from early childhood. He was a talented cook and lived a healthy, active lifestyle with his wife Judy,” his family said in a statement published by Haaretz.
“We mourn the loss of our father and grandfather and continue to hope and pray that his body will be returned to us and that Judy is still alive and we will be reunited soon,” the statement said.
