Amid the tragic events that unfolded during the attacks on October 7, Iris Weinstein Haggai faced a heartbreaking decision following the loss of her parents, Gadi and Judi, at the hands of Hamas. The customary Jewish mourning ritual of sitting shiva was put on hold as the bodies of her parents were still being held by the militant group.
Despite the inability to hold a traditional shiva, a small family gathering took place in Toronto, where some members of the Weinstein Haggai family reside. However, Iris and her siblings chose not to participate in person but instead watched recordings of the gathering via Zoom.
Expressing her struggle with the finality of the situation, Iris Weinstein Haggai shared her emotional turmoil, stating, 'I felt it was very final, and my heart’s — I couldn’t bear that yet. Because I don’t have bodies to bury.' The absence of closure due to the bodies not being laid to rest has left many families of the abducted hostages, including the Weinstein Haggai family, in a state of profound grief.
Tragically, three American hostages, Judi Weinstein Haggai, Gadi Haggai, and Itay Chen, all dual Israel-American citizens, have been confirmed dead. The families of the deceased emphasize that true peace of mind cannot be achieved until the bodies are returned for a proper burial.
Reflecting on her anguish, Iris Weinstein Haggai expressed, 'To me, there’s no closure. I need to make sure that they have a respectful burial; they’re laid to rest. I can’t rest. I’m not rested.' The urgency to retrieve the bodies remains a critical aspect of the ongoing negotiations for the release of hostages, as highlighted by a White House official.
