The Prime Minister's Office announced that after completing the identification process by the National Center for Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives notified the family of deceased hostage Dror Or that their loved one was returned to Israel and his identification was completed.
Exactly two years after his children returned from Hamas captivity, Or, who was abducted from Kibbutz Be'eri to the Gaza Strip on October 7, was returned to Israel as a deceased hostage on Tuesday evening.
Or, 49, was taken from his home on October 7 by Hamas terrorists. His wife Yonat was murdered during the attack, while his two children, Noam and Alma, were kidnapped and subsequently released in the first hostage deal in 2023. An expert committee convened in May 2024 determined that Or was no longer alive.
"The Government of Israel shared in the deep sorrow of the Or family and all the families of deceased hostages. The government and all of Israel's state security apparatus were determined, committed, and working tirelessly to return the two remaining deceased hostages for proper burial in their homeland," the PM's office said in a statement, adding that "The Hamas terror organization was required to fulfill its commitments to the mediators and return them as part of implementing the agreement. The government would not compromise on this and would spare no effort until all the hostages returned home, every last one of them."
Or (49) was a deceased hostage from Kibbutz Beeri who was kidnapped from his home on October 7. His wife, Yonat Or, was murdered, and their two children, Noam Or and Alma Or, were kidnapped and later released in the first deal in November 2023. An expert committee determined in May 2024 that Or was no longer alive.
Or was a devoted father to his three children – Yahli Or (18), Noam Or (17), and Alma Or (13). He served as Kibbutz Be'eri's cheesemaker, a leading culinary professional, a yoga instructor, and a man who appreciated silence.
On October 7, terrorists reached their home in the Kerem neighborhood. The family barricaded themselves in the safe room as their house was set on fire. While inside, united and embracing, Dror and Yonat made the critical decision to get their children out through the window – an action that ultimately saved their lives. Afterward, the couple separated and attempted to escape, but both were caught and murdered. The children were kidnapped to Gaza and returned to Israel after 50 days in captivity.
🟡 IDF representatives informed the family of Dror Or that their loved one has been brought back for burial.
According to the information and intelligence available to the IDF:
Dror Or, 48, was murdered by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization on Oct. 7th, 2023, and his body… pic.twitter.com/JDD9bWOmhx
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 26, 2025
Two other deceased hostages remain in the Gaza Strip: Ran Gvili, 24, and Sudthisak Rinthalak, 43. Gvili, an Israel Police counter-riot fighter, killed 14 terrorists before he was abducted. Rinthalak, a Thai national, was kidnapped while working in the orchards of Be'eri.
