CHRISTIANSTED, St. Croix (Reuters) – American Judith Weinstein, who was believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas, was killed by the Palestinian Islamist group on Oct. 7 when it attacked Israel, President Joe Biden said on Thursday, adding he was devastated by the news.
Weinstein was 70. Her husband, Gadi Haggai, 73, was killed on the same day, Biden said last week.
“This tragic development cuts deep, coming on the heels of last week’s news that Judith’s beloved husband, Gad Haggai, is believed to have been killed by Hamas,” Biden said in a statement, vowing to continue fighting for the release of other hostages still held by Hamas.
Working while on holiday in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Biden said he would never forget what the couple’s daughter and the family members of other Americans held hostage in Gaza told him when he met with them this month.
“They have been living through hell for weeks. No family should have to endure such an ordeal. And I reaffirm the pledge we have made to all the families of those still held hostage: we will not stop working to bring them home,” Biden said.
Biden and national security adviser Jake Sullivan have been deeply engaged on the hostage issue, according to administration officials. Biden has spoken numerous times with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the emir of Qatar on securing their release.
Hamas attacked kibbutzim, border towns and a music festival in Israel on Oct. 7 in a rampage that left 1,200 dead, with 240 people taken to Gaza as hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed over 21,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
Of the hostages, 110 were freed during a short truce in late November and another 23 have now been declared dead in absentia, an Israeli government spokesperson said on Thursday.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that between five and 10 of the hostages hold U.S. citizenship.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Kanishka Singh in Washington; editing by Diane Craft and Howard Goller)
