Sad news from Israel. Kibbutz Beeri announced that its citizen Dror Or, 49 years old, was killed by Hamas militiamen during the attack on October 7 and that his body is being held in Gaza. He had until now been designated as a hostage. His two children, 17-year-old Noam and 13-year-old Alma, were abducted along with him, but were released on November 25 as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar and the United States between Hamas and Israel . Or’s wife, Yonat, was found dead a few days after the October 7 attack. Noam and Alma’s older brother, Yahli, survived because he was participating in a year-long volunteer program in northern Israel and was not in his home on October 7.
The Israeli government confirmed the death of the 49-year-old: «We are heartbroken to confirm the death of Dror Or, kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, murdered and whose body is still in Gaza. The two children and their brother Yahli are now orphans.” The government gave no explanation as to how it learned of Or’s death, announced as mediator countries Qatar, the United States and Egypt await Hamas’ response to a new proposal for a ceasefire and release of hostages. In late November, during a week-long ceasefire, 105 hostages were released, including 80 Israelis and people from other countries, in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians held by Israel. The war began with a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 that killed 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli data. Israel estimates that 129 prisoners seized by militants during the ferocious attack remain in Gaza. The army says 35 of them have died, including Or.
