A woman with American, Canadian and Israeli citizenship who was identified as a hostage was killed during Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, a spokesperson for kibbutz Nir Oz said Thursday, per multiple reports.
According to NBC News, Judy Weinstein, 70, was killed alongside her Israeli American husband Gad Haggai, 72. She was a mother of four and a grandmother of seven, said the report.
Weinstein was fatally wounded during the October attack and her death has now been confirmed, the kibbutz Nir Oz spokesperson explained.
Both her and her husband’s bodies remain held in captivity by Hamas.
Weinstein was an English teacher who taught mindfulness to children, said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. NBC said she taught mindfulness to children who had anxiety due to rockets in Gaza. The Jerusalem Post said she specialized in helping children with special needs.
“She was a poet and entrepreneur, and was dedicated to working for peace and brotherhood, the kibbutz said,” per the Post. Her husband was a musician and chef, the report added.
Before Weinstein lost contact with her family and friends on Oct. 7, she was able to tell them she had been injured by a gunshot along with Haggai. Her daughter, Iris, heard in a phone call that her parents were hiding but then lost contact.
Following Hamas’ attack, the Israel-Hamas war began, and it has been raging in the area of Israel and Gaza since. While some hostages have been released alive, it is believed that more are still being held by the Hamas terrorist group.
This Tuesday, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar to discuss “the urgent effort to secure the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, including American citizens,” as well as the need for more humanitarian aid to be provided to civilians in Gaza.