US President Joe Biden has said that he is “heartbroken” by the news that an American named Gadi Haggai is believed to have been killed by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct 7 when it attacked Israel, according to Reuters.

Haggai, a 73-year-old Israeli-American man, was previously thought to have been taken hostage in the attack, along with his wife. A group representing hostages’ families had said earlier on Friday that Haggai died in captivity.

“Jill (Biden) and I are heartbroken by the news that American Gadi Haggai is now believed to have been killed by Hamas on October 7. We continue to pray for the well-being and safe return of his wife, Judy,” the US president said in a statement released by the White House.