Israeli officials and relatives announced early Friday, May 3, that an Israeli hostage kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 has been pronounced dead. Dror Or, 49, was killed, Kibbutz Biri, where he lived, said in a statement, and residents were among the worst affected by an attack on Israeli territory by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
His wife Yonet was killed during the attack, while two of their three children, Noam and Alma, aged 17 and 13 respectively, were abducted and later released in late November 2023 as part of a cease-fire agreement.
“It has now been confirmed that Tor Orr, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th, was assassinated and his body placed in Gaza”The Israeli government announced its role in its official X account, noting that Alma, Noam and their brother Yahli are now orphans.
The announcement of Dror's death comes as mediators – Qatar, the United States and Egypt – await Hamas' response to a new ceasefire proposal for the release of hostages. At the end of November 2023, a one-week ceasefire allowed the release of 105 hostages, including 80 Israelis and dual nationals, who were exchanged for 240 Palestinians held by Israel.
35 hostages died since October 7
The war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas commandos launched an attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to a report by Agence France-Presse based on official Israeli data.
More than 250 people have been kidnapped and 129 held captive in Gaza, 35 of whom are now dead, including Dror Orr.
In response, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas and launched a sweeping offensive in the Gaza Strip that has so far killed more than 34,500 people, mostly civilians, according to the armed Islamic movement's health ministry.
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