Kibbutz Be'eri announced on Thursday evening that Dror Or, who was kidnapped during Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, was murdered and his body is held in Gaza.
Dror Or is the father of Noam and Alma Or, who were freed from captivity after 50 days in Gaza a few months ago and of 18-year-old Yahli, who was not at home at the time of the massacre and was thus spared.
The three children have been left orphans as their mother, Yonat, was murdered in the kibbutz on the day of the massacre.
Alma Or in February shared on Instagram that while she was in captivity she did not know that her mother had been murdered.
A statement published by the Kibbutz on Thursday evening read, "A committee of experts that convened today with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Health, the intelligence agencies, the Israel Police, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Chief Rabbi of Israel, determined based on the findings presented to it that Dror Or is not among the living."
"Dror was a devoted father to three children, Yahli (18), Noam (17) and Alma (13), a loving partner to Yonat Or who was murdered on October 7, son of Yuval and Dorit Or and brother of Elad and Dana who worked the entire time for his release from captivity. Noam and Alma were also kidnapped to Gaza and were returned to Israel as part of the hostages deal."
"The Be’eri community has always held on to the hope that Dror will return alive from captivity to his children, parents, brother and sister. Every day that passes kills our friends, our families. We must do everything so that all the hostages return to their families, we are running out of air," the kibbutz statement said.