Body of Fallen Hostage Returned and Identified

For the first time since October 7, no residents of Kibbutz Be’eri remain in captivity.

By United with Israel Staff

Hamas and Islamic Jihad on Tuesday afternoon returned to Israel the body of a deceased hostage, bringing a measure of closure to a grieving family and to a community shattered since October 7.

The hostage was identified as Dror Or, 48, of Kibbutz Be’eri, after a formal forensic verification process carried out by Israel’s National Center of Forensic Medicine, together with the Israel Police and the IDF Rabbinate.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that after the identification was completed, “representatives of the IDF informed the family of the abducted fallen hostage, Dror Or, that their loved one has been returned to Israel and his identification has been completed.” The statement added that the government “shares in the profound sorrow of the Or family and of all the families of the abducted fallen.”

In the same announcement, the government stressed its commitment to securing the return of all remaining slain hostages. “The State of Israel is determined, committed, and working tirelessly to bring back our two fallen hostages for proper burial in their homeland. Hamas is required to fulfill its obligations to the mediators and return them as part of the agreement. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until every hostage is returned.”

The IDF released a parallel statement confirming Dror’s identity, noting that “according to the information and intelligence we possess, Dror Or was abducted from his home in Be’eri and murdered on October 7, 2023. His body was taken to Gaza by Islamic Jihad.”

The IDF stated that Dror’s death was officially determined on May 2, 2024, and extended condolences to the family while reaffirming that the military “continues to invest all efforts in bringing back the fallen hostages and is preparing for the continued implementation of the agreement.”

Dror Or leaves behind his children Yahli, Noam, and Alma. His wife, Yonat, was murdered on October 7 in the terror attack on the kibbutz. Dror and Yonat helped their children escape the burning home as Hamas terrorists set fire to it. They lifted the children through the safe room window and saved their lives.

The couple split up during their escape attempt; Yonat was murdered and Dror was abducted. Noam and Alma, then 16 and 13, were taken into Gaza and held captive for 50 days before being freed in the November 2023 temporary ceasefire. They were informed of their mother’s death immediately upon their return. At that time, Dror’s fate was still unknown.

Kibbutz Be’eri released an emotional statement following the identification of Dror’s body, noting that for the first time since October 7, “there are no residents of Kibbutz Be’eri still held in captivity.”

The community wrote of Dror: “He was a devoted father to three children, a loving partner to Yonat, a calm and kind man with a gentle humor and a deep sensitivity to those around him.” The kibbutz emphasized that it held hope until the end that Dror would return alive. Dror’s children, who survived while losing both parents, remain symbols of Be’eri’s resilience and the unbroken spirit of the community.

Dror was a respected chef and cheesemaker at the Be’eri Dairy, known for his dedication, warmth, and quiet strength. He worked in several Tel Aviv restaurants, and later trained in cheesemaking in Italy and France. Friends and family described him as a gentle and thoughtful man who loved food, travel, basketball, and yoga, which he practiced for two decades and eventually taught.

Dror’s return is a painful reminder of the brutality inflicted on Israeli families on October 7. It is also a reminder of the duty Israel has taken upon itself: to bring every hostage home.

Hamas continues to hold the bodies of two fallen hostages, one Israeli and one Thai citizen. Israel has made clear that it will not cease its pressure until they, too, are returned for proper burial. The nation will not rest until that promise is fulfilled.