October 7 · Personal story
Or Yaakov
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
Kibbutz Nir Oz, southern Israel
Current outcome
Released alive · November 27, 2023
Released alive on November 27, 2023, after 52 days in captivity.
01
Home, friends and fitness
Or Yaakov grew up in Nir Oz with his mother Renana, sister Sheer and brother Yagil. He was quiet and shy, loved by relatives and friends. His teacher identified him as her 11th-grade student. He liked Fortnite, fitness training and fitness creators, set goals for himself, and wanted to earn his own money.
02
Taken from home
On October 7, 2023, Or and Yagil were alone at their Nir Oz home. Their mother Renana was staying in nearby Sufa; their sister Sheer was in her own home in Nir Oz. The boys entered the protected room and kept calling their parents and sister. At 9:36 they told Renana that attackers were entering. Or pointed a laser beam at them, and when they stepped away he closed the door. The attackers returned and took Yagil first. They bound Or’s hands with electrical wire and carried him away separately. In a later phone call arranged by his captors, he told Renana, “Mom, I’ve been kidnapped.”
03
Separate captivity
Or was held apart from Yagil. He was first taken to a gathering place in Hamas tunnels with other hostages from Nir Oz, then moved between tunnels and houses, remaining with other people from the kibbutz. On October 23, released hostage Yocheved Lifshitz told the family that she had seen Or. On October 28, an intelligence officer informed Renana that both her sons were alive in Gaza and being held separately. The brothers did not meet again until their release.
04
Return on November 27
On November 27, 2023, after 52 days in captivity, Or and Yagil returned alive and reunited with Renana and their older sister Sheer.
05
Separate family outcomes
His father’s partner Merav Tal was released on November 28, one day after the brothers. In January 2024, Renana, Sheer, Or and Yagil moved from Eilat, where the evacuated community had stayed, to Karmei Gat. On February 15, the family received confirmation that Yair had been murdered on October 7 and his body was being held in Gaza. His remains were recovered in June 2025. Or wrote, “Dad, finally you are here.” Yair was buried in Nir Oz on June 20. In his February 2026 interview, Yagil described the brothers’ bond becoming deeper after captivity; he said Or understood him, and that he was glad his brother was growing stronger and finding his way.