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You’ll by no means comprehend it by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s social media postings, however there may be nonetheless a Canadian citizen being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas.
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At the least that’s the newest data Judith Weinstein Haggai’s daughter has about her mom, a Torontonian, and her American father, Gad Haggai.
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“They have been each shot Oct. 7 on the Nir-Oz kibbutz,” stated Iris Haggai Liniado over the cellphone from Israel the place she has travelled from her Singapore residence. She made the journey, hoping for a miracle — at the very least some constructive information.
It has been some time since she has heard any.
“We all know that their cellphones have been traced to Gaza,” she stated. “On the day of the assault, my mom did clarify over WhatsApp what had occurred. It was very graphic: My father was shot within the head, and she or he was shot within the face and arm.”
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There have been intelligence experiences that her father’s physique was seen on the again of a truck pushed via Gaza, however they weren’t confirmed. Her mom has successfully disappeared. However their our bodies haven’t been discovered and each are thought of to be hostages.
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Whereas it feels just like the Canadian authorities has forgotten about them, one place that hasn’t is the Natalia Birnbaum actual property workplace at Eglinton Ave. and Bathurst St. — the place the image of each particular person kidnapped is posted on the entrance window and door in a strong assertion. On Sunday, Natalia and her husband, Moshe Birnbaum, up to date their show with new standing stickers.
“We need to do our half,” stated Moshe, whose grandparents are Holocaust survivors. “There may be not a day goes by that we don’t consider all of them.”
Initially, they took down the {photograph} of every particular person launched throughout the latest pause within the Gaza battle. However they’ve since put again up every picture, together with the newest details about these pictured.
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A few of the footage of launched hostages now say “rescued,” and others sadly have a headline that claims “murdered.”
And greater than 100 nonetheless are thought of kidnapped. You will note Judith and Gad’s image there. Everyone is hopeful they’ll sooner or later quickly put a “rescued” sticker there.
Born in New York — an immigrant to Canada at simply age three — Judith has spent plenty of time in Toronto together with her husband Gad and household. Whereas they reside in Israel, Canada continues to be residence and as Trudeau famous earlier than, a “Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian.”
Most Canadians don’t know her title.
Judith is an individual who pushes for peace, was all the time supportive of Palestinians, favoured a two-state answer and is an all-round form particular person. There isn’t a manner she ought to ever have been shot or kidnapped.
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Iris Haggai Liniado, in the meantime, is praying she will get to see her mother and pop once more. With the latest launch of dozens of hostages, Iris hoped that may occur in a kind of exchanges.
It didn’t occur.
There was no signal of them. Iris was comfortable to see others from the kibbutz the place she grew up launched, however disillusioned there’s not a lot new on her dad and mom.
“Not one of the hostages who received out had seen them or heard something about them both,” stated Iris, an artist and Canadian citizen.
It reminds certainly one of what occurred with fellow Canadian Vivian Silver, 74 – a lacking peace activist who was later decided to have been murdered Oct. 7.
However nothing has been confirmed about Iris’ dad and mom. With dozens of hostages nonetheless believed to be hidden away in Hamas’ tunnels in Gaza, she has not given up.
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“We nonetheless maintain out hope.”
She can also be hoping for extra assist from the Canadian authorities.
“I’m actually specializing in the Canadian authorities,” she stated, including she feels “negotiation” with Hamas to launch her mom must be “on the desk” and Canada can “use their very good relationships to seek out out extra about my mother.”
Iris didn’t criticize the Canadian authorities, however I’m.
There simply has not been sufficient consideration paid to this case or to any of the remaining hostages. Whereas Trudeau posts on X about issues like assembly with California Gov. Gavin Newsom to speak about Google, his tribute to late rock singer Myles Goodwin, or lunch at a Chinese language restaurant, there isn’t a latest point out of a Canadian citizen hostage and her husband.
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It might be higher if Trudeau and his ministers confirmed extra outrage and held again any Canadian taxpayer assist or funding to Gaza till Hamas releases all its hostages, it doesn’t matter what situation they’re in.
And there must be no smiling selfies, or photos of nights in town till that occurs.
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