Dror Or, aged 49, was killed and held in the Gaza Strip since October 7, Kibbutz Be’eri where he lived and whose residents were among the most affected by the attack said in a statement. in Israeli territory of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
His wife, Yonat, was killed during this assault while two of their three children, Noam and Alma, aged 17 and 13 respectively, were kidnapped and then released as part of a truce agreement at the end of November.
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“It is now confirmed that Dror Or, kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, was assassinated and his body held in Gaza,” the Israeli government indicated on its official X account, specifying that Alma, Noam and their brother Yahli were now orphans.
The announcement of Dror Or’s death comes as the mediating countries – Qatar, the United States and Egypt – await Hamas’ response to a new truce proposal associated with the release of hostages.
At the end of November, a one-week truce allowed the release of 105 hostages, including 80 Israelis and dual nationals exchanged for 240 Palestinians detained by Israel.
The war broke out on October 7 when Hamas commandos carried out an attack which resulted in the death of 1,170 people, mainly civilians, according to an AFP report based on official Israeli data.
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More than 250 people have been kidnapped and 129 remain captive in Gaza, of whom 35 are now dead including Dror Or.
In retaliation, Israel vowed to annihilate Hamas and launched a vast offensive in the Gaza Strip, which has so far left more than 34,500 dead, mostly civilians, according to the armed Islamist movement’s Health Ministry.
