Israel has confirmed that recently returned remains from Gaza belong to hostage Dror Or, narrowing the number of missing individuals as negotiations progress over the next stage of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement.
The announcement comes as Turkish, Qatari and Egyptian officials meet in Cairo to secure the framework for a longer-term arrangement that would reshape governance and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. While the initial phase of the truce has largely held since taking effect in October, nearly every element of the plan’s future remains uncertain, from timelines to implementation on the ground.
Hostage identification deepens emotional toll
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that the remains repatriated this week were formally identified as those of Dror Or, one of the hundreds of people taken during the October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel. The return leaves two bodies still unaccounted for in Gaza — one Israeli citizen and one Thai national — as the first stage of the ceasefire approaches its endpoint.
Palestinian militants handed over Or’s remains on Tuesday. Israel’s military said he and his wife, Yonat, were killed when armed militants entered Kibbutz Beeri during the assault, one of the hardest-hit communities that day. According to the Hostages Families Forum, the couple managed to evacuate two of their children, Alma and Noam, through a window before they were killed. Both children were abducted and later released as part of a hostage exchange in November 2023.
The Forum remembered Or as a devoted father, longtime cheesemaker and manager at the Be’eri dairy. He was described as a skilled cook and yoga teacher who had deep ties to the close-knit kibbutz community.
Israel says approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken to Gaza in the October 7 attacks. With Or’s identification, almost all hostages or their remains have now been returned to Israel. Under the terms of the current agreement, Israel has approved the release of 15 Palestinian bodies for every hostage whose remains are transferred.
Talks in Cairo look to expand fragile ceasefire
Qatar, Turkey and Egypt have been working in coordination with the United States to maintain the truce and shape a longer-term framework. On Tuesday, Turkey’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met in Cairo with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, along with Egypt’s intelligence chief Hasan Reshat.
A Turkish security official, speaking anonymously under national regulations, said the discussions focused on moving into the second phase of the ceasefire arrangement. The governments also agreed to deepen cooperation with the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), which was established to monitor compliance and prevent violations.
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The next phase includes the creation of an international governance mechanism for Gaza, potentially operating under a renewable two-year United Nations mandate. According to Israeli officials, a stabilization force would be responsible for securing the territory and ensuring the disarmament of Hamas — a central demand for Israel and one of the most contested aspects of the plan.
Diplomats and regional analysts note that major questions remain unresolved, including who would participate in the stabilization force, the scope of authority for international administrators and how reconstruction funds would be managed.
Conditions on the ground remain critical
Even as high-level talks continue, everyday life in Gaza remains shaped by displacement, limited services and severe shortages. Most Palestinians have been unable to return to their homes and remain dependent on humanitarian assistance for food, shelter and medical care.
Reconstruction efforts have barely begun, hindered by damaged infrastructure, restricted access to materials and the absence of a confirmed long-term security arrangement. Aid agencies warn that humanitarian needs will continue to intensify unless sustained access and stability are restored.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says 69,775 Palestinians have been killed and 170,863 injured in Israel’s retaliatory offensive since October 2023. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and fighters in its reporting but has stated that women and children account for the majority of deaths. Although operating under Hamas-run authorities, the ministry is staffed by medical professionals and maintains records viewed as broadly reliable by independent experts and international organizations.
A fragile process with uncertain timelines
Despite progress in recent weeks, officials across the region acknowledge that the next stage of the ceasefire will be significantly more complex. Political divisions, security concerns and competing regional priorities continue to delay the development of a unified roadmap.
While no formal timeline has been released, mediators say the goal is to preserve current stability and prevent a return to large-scale fighting. For families awaiting news of remaining hostages, the process continues to move slowly and unpredictably.
As negotiations continue, the return and identification of Dror Or’s remains underscores the humanitarian and emotional weight carried by both sides. For many Israelis, the latest development signals a measure of closure. For Palestinians in Gaza, the challenges ahead remain vast, with reconstruction, security and governance still unresolved.
Source: AP News – Israel identifies the latest remains returned from Gaza as hostage Dror Or
