A kibbutz Nir Oz resident and dedicated Magen David Adom volunteer, Ronen Engel was killed while protecting his family when a Hamas terrorist cell broke into their home on the morning of the October 7 massacre.
Ronen, 54, was married to Karina, the devoted father of Tom, Mika, and Yuval, and the brother of Danny. He was a photographer, a lover of travel and off-road biking, a vintage collector, and above all, a true friend.
Karina, Mika, and Yuval were also kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 and were released in the first deal.
In recent years, he volunteered as an emergency medical technician with MDA while working as a water engineer. In the kibbutz, he worked in the chicken coops and in restoring and refurbishing furniture and vintage items.
'Always look on the bright side of life'
According to his family, he used to say, "One person's trash becomes another person's treasure." A few years ago, he tattooed "Always look on the bright side of life" on his arm, a sentence that was a way of life for him.
"Alongside the grief and the understanding that their hearts will never be whole again, Ronen’s return brings some measure of solace to a family that has lived in unbearable uncertainty and doubt for over two years," his family said in a statement released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum when his remains were returned.
Ronen Engel's remains were returned to Israel as part of US President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan on October 18, 2025.