The Body of Dror Or Comes Home!
For two years, the people of Israel prayed, waited, and wondered whether the body of Dror Or — beloved father, husband, chef, and cheesemaker from Kibbutz Be’eri — would ever return home.
This week, on November 25, 2025, exactly two years after his children Noam and Alma were freed, his remains were finally brought back to Israel.
“The body of Dror Or was returned to Israel from Gaza by Palestinian terror groups on Tuesday evening.”
Israeli forensic teams at Abu Kabir identified his remains overnight, and the IDF notified the family — a moment they had long feared might never come.
Dror was murdered on October 7, 2023, by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists. His wife Yonat was murdered the same day. Their younger children were abducted to Gaza.
For the Or family, home will never feel the same — but this week, one chapter of uncertainty finally closed.
“For the first time since October 7, there are no hostages from Kibbutz Be’eri in captivity.”
— Kibbutz Be’eri statement
A Life Rooted in Love, Craft, and Community
Dror was known for his quiet warmth and remarkable skill. He studied at Tadmor Culinary School, cooked in Tel Aviv restaurants, and eventually moved to Be’eri with Yonat to raise their children.
He became a gifted cheesemaker, training in Italy and France before returning home to run the Be’eri Dairy’s artisanal operation.
His colleagues described him with reverence. One coworker told The Times of Israel:
“He had a golden touch… an amazing touch — God touched him.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum remembered him as:
“An active and involved father… a loving and supportive husband.”
Dror loved the earth of Be’eri. And now, at last, he will rest there.
Two Children Free, A Family Forever Marked
On October 7, terrorists set fire to the Or home. Dror and Yonat pushed their children out the window to save them. All were separated in the chaos.
Yonat was murdered.
Noam and Alma were kidnapped and later freed on November 25, 2023.
Dror was killed, and his body taken to Gaza.
His nephew Liam was also abducted and released days later.
Their eldest son Yahli was not home that morning.
When Dror’s death was confirmed in May 2024, the family sat shiva — but could not bury him.
His brother Elad said recently:
“If this deal breaks, then we’ll be like Hadar Goldin.”
The fear was real. Hadar’s body remained in Gaza for 11 years.
Now, the children can finally bury their father beside their mother.
“For them, the ability to bury their father next to their mother in Be’eri… is very meaningful.”
— Elad Or
Only Two Hostages’ Bodies Remain in Gaza
With Dror’s return, only two slain hostages remain in the Strip:
Master Sgt. Ran Gvili
Sudthisak Rinthalak of Thailand
The Prime Minister’s Office stated:
“Israel is determined, committed, and working tirelessly to bring back the remaining two slain hostages for burial.”
And Kibbutz Be’eri expressed a bittersweet truth:
“For the first time since October 7, there are no hostages from Kibbutz Be’eri in captivity.”
A sentence filled with both relief and sorrow.
A Final Act of Honor
Police officers saluted as the van carrying Dror’s remains arrived at the forensic center in Tel Aviv.
IDF soldiers stood at attention beside his casket.
Israel does not leave her sons behind — not in life, not in death.
As a community of Christian women who love Israel and stand with her families, we grieve this loss. We honor Dror’s life. And we continue to pray for the return of every last captive — alive or deceased.
Am Yisrael Chai. The people of Israel live.
Source:
Times of Israel – “Body of Dror Or, devoted father and Be’eri cheesemaker, returned to Israel from Gaza”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/body-of-dror-or-devoted-father-and-beeri-cheesemaker-returned-to-israel-from-gaza/
