The body of Dolev Yehoud, a 35-year-old medic from the Nir Oz kibbutz in southern Israel, has been recovered after he was kidnapped during a terrorist attack on October 7, Israeli authorities confirmed Monday. Yehoud had left his home that day to provide medical assistance to those injured in the attack when he was abducted. His sister, Arbel Yahuda, remains in captivity.
Yehoud is survived by his wife Sigal and four young children: daughters Raz, 8, Yotam, 7, Yaron, 4, and Dor, who is just eight months old. In a cruel twist of fate, baby Dor was born only 16 days after the October 7 attack, never getting the chance to meet her father.
"When Dolev was kidnapped, he was a father to three amazing children – Raz, Yotam, and Ron," his wife said. "He was by my side for all three births, holding my hand, supporting me, cutting the umbilical cords, and helping choose their names."
For weeks after the October 7 attack on Nir Oz, there were no signs of Yehoud in Gaza. Efforts were made to determine if he had been taken to Gaza or was being held captive somewhere in Israeli territory. In recent weeks, suspicions grew that he had been killed in Israel.
His body was eventually found in the area around the kibbutz and moved to another location. Forensic evidence was examined multiple times but initially failed to extract DNA. However, after repeated investigations and additional analysis, it became clear that the recovered remains were those of Yehoud.
