Israel recovered another body that was in Hamas’s hands
Dror Or, the hostage whose remains were recovered
porEditorial Team
Israel
Only the remains of two hostages are left in Gaza: Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak and Israeli national Ran Gvili
Israel confirmed the identification of Dror Or's remains, the hostage who was killed and held in Gaza, whose remains were returned on Tuesday by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
The announcement was made by the Prime Minister's Office and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which highlighted that the forensic process was completed by the National Center of Forensic Medicine, in coordination with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate.
The Prime Minister's Office expressed its deep sorrow over Or's death and conveyed condolences to his family. The statement emphasized that Israel will not relinquish its moral and national obligation to bring all the hostages back:
"The terrorist organization Hamas must fulfill its commitments to the mediators and return the hostages as agreed. We will not compromise on this principle and will do whatever is necessary to bring them home, each and every one of them."
According to IDF intelligence, Or was killed and abducted by Islamic Jihad terrorists during the attacks led by Hamas on October 7, 2023. His death was officially confirmed on May 2, 2024.
Dror was 48 years old, had three children—Yahli, Noam, and Alma—and lived in Kibbutz Be'eri, one of the communities most affected during the massacre. His wife, Yonat Or, was also killed that day.
Two of his children, Alma and Noam, were abducted along with him and released in November 2023 as part of the agreement known as "Gates of Heaven".
IDF stated that they continue working to recover the bodies of all murdered hostages and recalled that Hamas is obligated to hand over the remains in accordance with the terms of the current agreement.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed its grief over the news, recalling the family's long struggle:
"After 781 days of agony, during which his family fought day and night for him, Dror has been brought back to Israel to be buried in the land of Be'eri that he deeply loved."
Dror Or was not only a devoted father and a pillar of his kibbutz, but also an entrepreneur: he was manager and co-founder of Be'eri Dairy, an craft-made cheese factory recognized in Israel. He studied cheese production in Italy, was a chef, a certified yoga instructor, and, according to those close to him, a man deeply committed to his family and his community.
He is survived by his three children, his siblings Dana and Elad, and his parents Yuval and Dorit.
IDF detailed that Or's remains were handed over by the International Committee of the Red Cross after being recovered from the terrorists at a meeting point in central Gaza around 16:30.
The terrorist groups held a "small ceremony" during the handover, an act considered by Israel as an explicit violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The return of Dror Or's remains rekindles the central demand of thousands of Israeli families: that Hamas and Islamic Jihad finally comply with the agreements and allow the return—alive or fallen—of all hostages held in Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, insists that it will not rest until this is achieved.
