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Iris Weinstein Haggai: Hamas is still holding my mother’s remains hostage. Where is Canada’s urgency in bringing her home?

Commentary

Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza hold photos of their loved ones in Tel Aviv, Israel, Aug. 15, 2024. Ariel Schalit/AP Photo.

A year has passed since my mother, Judi Weinstein—a Canadian citizen, a children’s mindfulness teacher, a poet, and a special needs educator—was taken hostage along with my father, Gadi Haggai, into Gaza on the horrific day of October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists invaded our quiet community. Today, although she remains the only Canadian among the 101 hostages, alive and dead, still held by Hamas, most Canadians wouldn’t even know her name.

My mother grew up in Toronto, embodying the values of compassion, justice, and service that Canadians hold dear. Alongside my father, a jazz musician and vegan chef, she found peace in Kibbutz Nir Oz, an agricultural community in southern Israel. That peace was shattered on October 7th. Hamas’ massacre irreparably damaged our small community of 400 people, a quarter of whom were either murdered or taken hostage. At the end of their rampage, over 1,200 were killed, and more than 250 innocent civilians were kidnapped, including my 70-year-old parents.

For 83 agonizing days, I had no idea if my parents were alive or dead. The psychological terror of not knowing was unbearable—were they being tortured? Were they being held in the dark tunnels under Gaza? Or were they among the murdered, waiting to be identified by authorities? Finally, I learned the inhumane news: my mother and father had been massacred, and their bodies were stolen as collateral by Hamas to use as bargaining chips.

This is not just about my personal tragedy—it is about the global implications of allowing a terrorist organization to hold innocent people, even deceased bodies, as hostages. My mother’s story should be a rallying cry for Canadians, but her name seems lost in political theatre, like all the hostages have become—talking points in speeches and statements, with no real action behind them. Canadians, whose tax dollars have indirectly supported Hamas through funding UNRWA, must confront the reality that our government has not done nearly enough to bring their only hostage home. Abandoning a Canadian in the hands of a terrorist organization.

Canada’s silence is deafening. Parliamentarians, who should be shouting for the return of my mother’s body, seem unaware of her existence. As the only Canadian hostage, her case should be central to Canada’s foreign policy on the Middle East, yet she’s a mere footnote in discussions about the conflict.

I refuse to let my mother’s name fade into oblivion. This is why I have joined other victims of the October 7th attacks in seeking justice, including being part of a lawsuit against Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, Iran, Syria, and Samidoun—a Vancouver-based organization tied to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), recently declared a terrorist organization. Under Canada’s Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, we are demanding over $250 million in compensation—not for money but for accountability. For the acknowledgement they deserve. Canada’s Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act provides a legal framework to hold state sponsors of terrorism accountable. It is time for our government to enforce it.

Where is Canada in following the U.S. in issuing indictments against the perpetrators of the attacks on its citizens? While the U.S. and other allies pursue justice, Canada has yet to open a formal investigation into the crimes against my mother and the seven other Canadian victims of October 7th. Eight Canadians were murdered that day. Why has there been no investigation into these violations of international law? Why hasn’t Canada held Hamas accountable for its barbaric actions against its own citizens?

I urge Canadians to reflect on the values we hold dear—human rights, justice, and empathy. Are we a country that stands idly by while our citizens are taken hostage, or do we fight for their release and return?

Now, more than ever, the international community faces a critical window to act decisively against Hamas. With the death of its leader, Yahya Sinwar, a significant blow has been dealt to Hamas, creating disarray. This presents an urgent chance to secure the release of the remaining hostages, including my mother. Governments, including Canada, must act swiftly to exert diplomatic pressure and leverage this instability to demand the unconditional release of all hostages. It is long past time for real action.

Once upon a time, Canada was seen as a leader on the world stage. Where is that Canada? The Canadian government must take the lead in rallying the international community, calling for sanctions and financial pressure on Hamas, its leaders in Qatar, and its supporters. If there is ever a time to unite in this effort, it is now.

For the past year, I have used every platform available to raise awareness about my parents and all hostages. But I cannot do this alone. I need Canadians to stand with me. We are at a crossroads—do we allow terrorism to prevail, or do we fight back with the values that define us?

Say her name: Judi Weinstein. She’s more than a victim—she was a Canadian, a mentor, a teacher, a peace activist, a grandmother, and a mother. And she must come home.

Iris Weinstein Haggai

Iris Weinstein Haggai is the daughter of Judi Weinstein Haggai and Gadi Haggai, two of the victims of the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Both murdered by Hamas, the terrorist organization continues to hold their bodies hostage. Iris also represents one of two families…...

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