The remains returned last night belong to Lior Rudaeff – he fell defending others
Lior Rudaeff
‘IDF representatives have informed his family that their loved one has been returned to Israel and that identification has been completed. The government of Israel shares in the profound grief of the Rudaeff family and all families of deceased hostages,’ the statement read.
‘After 763 nightmarish days, he has returned home”, his daughter Noam wrote on her Instagram account’. ‘Now you are home; now you are here. Thank you to all the kind people who supported us in our relentless and humane efforts to bring him and all the other hostages home,” she added.
Lior Rudaeff, from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, was murdered near his home on October 7, 2023 and his body was taken to Gaza. However, before his death, he sent a message to his family saying that he had been injured. His phone was later tracked in Khan Yunis, leading his family to believe for months that he was still alive.
An ambulance driver and volunteer medic, Lior received an early-morning call on 7 October to say that the kibbutz was under attack. As a member of the civilian rapid response team, he defended the kibbutz and was killed while fighting the Hamas terrorists.
Magen David Adom has shared in the family’s grief.
For nearly 40 years, Lior volunteered with Magen David Adom as an Emergency Medical Technician and ambulance driver. On the morning of October 7th, as a member of the community security standby squad and an MDA volunteer, Lior left his home to confront the terrorists and assist the wounded during the assault. He was killed in combat, and his body was taken captive by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation.
Lior is survived by his wife Yafa, four children – Noa, Nadav, Bar, and Ben – and three grandchildren – Tomer, Dagan, and Shai. The Magen David Adom family embraces Lior’s loved ones, who will forever remain part of the MDA family. In July, marking his birthday, Lior’s family held a blood donation drive in cooperation with MDA’s Blood Services, inviting the public to continue donating and helping others – just as Lior did throughout his life.
MDA Director General Eli Bin said, “Lior was a man of giving, dedication, and deep compassion for others. For 25 years, he was known as the legendary ambulance driver of Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, saving countless lives. On the morning of October 7th, he left his home to fight the terrorists and shielded his fellow kibbutz members with his own body. He was always there for others – extending a helping hand to anyone in need, always with a smile and a zest for life. The Magen David Adom family embraces the Rudaeff family and bows its head upon the return of his body to Israel.”
Around 1,200 people were killed and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The bodies of three Israelis and one foreign national are still held in Gaza.
