With the return of the body of Ronen Engel, a volunteer MDA Emergency Medical Technician from Kibbutz Nir Oz who fell in battle during the October 7 Hamas attack and was abducted to Gaza, Magen David Adom honors his memory and shares in the family’s grief.

Ronen began his path in MDA as an EMT, and in the days before his abduction was nearing completion of his training as an MDA ambulance driver. On the morning of October 7, 2023, Ronen went out to save lives with his MDA responder medical kit. The bag, containing lifesaving medical equipment and bearing his name, was later found in the kibbutz after he was kidnapped to Gaza.

Ronen is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son, and a brother. His wife, Karina, and daughters Mika and Yuval were also kidnapped on October 7 and later released as part of a hostage deal. The Magen David Adom family embraces Ronen’s family, who will forever be part MDA.

Former hostage Karina Engel take part in a special ceremony for a new bulletproof ambulance donated by the Harvest Christian Fellowship to Magen David Adom, at the Tower of David, in the Old City of Jerusalem, June 1, 2025. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90

MDA Director General Eli Bin: “Ronen was a beloved, skilled, and dedicated volunteer who saved lives and helped everyone around him. Even that day, he left his home as an MDA responder with his medical first-aid kit, intending to fight terrorists and save lives, and he fell in the course of that mission. With the return of Ronen’s body to Israel, we send our deepest condolences to his family and embrace them. His legacy of saving lives will never be forgotten.”

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