By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – A group campaigning for the release of hostages held by Hamas said Tuesday that Lior Rudaeff, who was thought to be in Gaza captivity, was murdered on October 7, and his body taken to Gaza.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said it “mourns the murder of Lior Rudaeff. May his memory be a blessing. We share in the profound grief of the Rudaeff family.”
The group said it “bows its head in sorrow” with “a broken heart” after determining that Rudaeff “was murdered on October 7 and that his body was kidnapped to Gaza by Hamas terrorists.”
The Forum said it would “continue providing assistance and support to Lior’s family during this immensely difficult time until his body is returned to Israel for a proper burial.”
Rudaeff, 61, will remembered for “a life dedicated to helping others, with a boundless heart and generosity that touched all who knew him. He volunteered as an ambulance driver for four decades, always the first to step up and lend a hand to anyone in need,” the Forum added in a statement seen by Worthy News.
An “Argentinian at heart,” Lior was a passionate cyclist and a fan of Shlomo Artzi, a famous Israeli folk rock musician, composer, music producer, radio host, and singer-songwriter.
“Lior was married to Yaffa for 38 years. He was a loving father to Noam, Nadav, Bar, and Ben and a doting grandfather to Tomer and Dagan,” the Forum stressed.
LIOR’S DEATH
The announcement of Lior’s death came hours after Hamas claimed a hostage previously confirmed deceased and another captive died of wounds from an Israeli attack.
Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida said Israeli-US-Canadian citizen Judith Weinstein, 70, and another unnamed hostage held in Gaza “succumbed to their wounds as a result of Israeli bombardment.”
Israel’s military has denied deliberately targeting civilians, saying Hamas is using innocent people, including hostages, as human shields.
Israel estimates that some 133 people are still in captivity, ranging from toddlers to the elderly, and that 36 of those hostages are confirmed dead.
But the fates of roughly 100 hostages, including also Israelis, foreign nationals, peace activists, soldiers, mothers, and grandfathers — are still unclear, some seven months after the start of the war, Israeli officials acknowledge.
The uncertainty is reportedly complicating negotiations but also leaving the hostages’ families in anguish.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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