Israel Confirms Hamas Returned Dror Or’s Body

Published: 26 November 2025 Wednesday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Israel has confirmed that Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) handed over the body of deceased Israeli hostage Dror Or on Tuesday.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office expressed its condolences, stating that the government “shares in the deep sorrow of the Or family” following forensic confirmation of the remains. Authorities emphasized that they continue working tirelessly to recover the last two dead hostages still in Gaza and called on Hamas to fulfill its commitments under the six-week-old Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Or’s body was transferred via the Red Cross after Hamas and PIJ announced its recovery in central Gaza on Monday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) informed Or’s family on Wednesday morning that forensic testing at the National Centre of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv had confirmed the identity of the 48-year-old father of three.

According to the IDF, Or was killed by PIJ during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 at his home in Kibbutz Be’eri. His body was then abducted and taken to Gaza. Or’s wife, Yonat, was also killed in the attack, while two of their children, Noam and Alma, were taken hostage and later released in November 2023 as part of a week-long ceasefire deal.

“The IDF expresses deep condolences to the families, continues to make every effort to return all the deceased hostages, and is prepared for the continued implementation of the agreement,” the statement said.

Under the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire, which began on 10 October, Hamas agreed to return 20 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 28 dead hostages, both Israeli and foreign, within 72 hours. The living hostages were released on 13 October in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza.

To date, Israel has received the remains of 23 dead Israeli hostages and three foreign hostages, including Thai, Nepalese, and Tanzanian nationals. In exchange, Israel handed over 330 bodies of Palestinians killed during the conflict and is expected to transfer another 15 bodies to secure Or’s remains.

The two remaining deceased hostages in Gaza are Israeli Ran Gvili, 24, and Thai Suthisak Rintalak, 43. Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately delaying the return of the bodies, while Hamas claims difficulty locating them under rubble.

The slow progress has stalled the second phase of former President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which includes Gaza governance, Israeli troop withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and reconstruction.

The two deceased hostages were among 251 people abducted by Hamas and its allies on 7 October 2023, when roughly 1,200 others were killed. Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza, resulting in more than 69,770 deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.