Dror Or was identified as the slain Gaza hostage whose remains were returned to Israel by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) on Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s Office and the IDF announced on Wednesday morning.
Following Or’s return to Israel, the two deceased hostages who remain in Gaza are Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak and St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili.
“After completing the identification process by the National Center for Forensic Medicine [L. Greenberg Institute of Forensic Medicine], in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the family of the deceased abductee, Dror Or, that their loved one had been returned to Israel and his identification had been completed,” the PMO stated.
The office added that the Israeli government shared in the grief of Or’s family and reaffirmed its commitment to return all of the hostages.
“The Hamas terrorist organization is required to meet its commitments to the mediators and return them as part of the agreement’s implementation. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we bring back all the hostages – every last one,” the statement concluded.
The IDF noted that, based on available intelligence, Or was murdered and abducted by Palestinian Islamic Jihad during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. His death was formally determined on May 2, 2024. Or was 48 and had three children. His wife, Yonat Or, was also killed in the massacre.
Two of Or’s children, Alma and Noam, were abducted with him and released in November 2023 under the “Doors of Heaven” agreement.
The military said it is continuing efforts to return all fallen hostages and noted that Hamas is required to fulfill its obligations under the agreement to return the remaining bodies. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed sorrow over Or’s death and shared in the family’s grief, emphasizing the ongoing urgency to bring all remaining hostages home.
“After 781 agonizing days during which his family fought day and night for him, Dror has been brought back to Israel for burial in the soil of Be’eri that he loved so dearly,” the forum said.
Dror, a native of Kibbutz Be’eri, was a devoted husband and father. He managed and co-founded Be’eri Dairy, an artisanal cheesemaking operation, and studied cheesemaking in Italy. He was also a chef, a certified yoga instructor, and a loving and supportive father and husband.
He is survived by his three children, Yahli, Noam, and Alma; his siblings, Dana and Elad; and his parents, Yuval and Dorit.
Hamas held a 'ceremony' when transferring Dror's remains
On Tuesday, the IDF retrieved Or’s remains from the Red Cross in Gaza and conveyed them to the Abu Kabir medical center for identification.
The Red Cross retrieved Or’s remains from terrorists at a meeting point in the central Gaza Strip at around 4:30 p.m. The terrorists held a small “ceremony” as the remains were being transferred, in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Miriam Sela-Eitam and Darcie Grunblatt contributed to this story.