Ronen began his journey with MDA about two years before he was murdered, driven by great dedication and a deep desire to help people and save lives.
He was a member of MDA’s Immediate Response Unit while simultaneously advancing his training as an ambulance driver. Ronen invested many hours in studying and deepening his professional knowledge as a volunteer, and at the time of his murder, he was nearing the completion of his ambulance driver certification.
Alongside his volunteering at MDA, Ronen was a water technician and a professional photographer, a motorcycle enthusiast, and a family man. About 15 years before October 7th, he moved with his wife, Karina, to Kibbutz Nir Oz, which became their home.
Kibbutz members described him as an “incurable optimist,” mischievous, with a great sense of humor and a zest for life.
On the morning of October 7th, he left his home with his personal first responder kit provided by MDA to assist and save lives. He was murdered, and his body was abducted to the Gaza Strip.
His wife, Karina, and his daughters, Mika and Yuval, were also abducted and were released in the hostage deal in November 2023.
Ronen’s body was returned to Israel only in October 2025.
He was laid to rest at the Kibbutz Nir Oz cemetery. He is survived by his wife, three children, and a brother.
An MDA ambulance bearing his name was dedicated in his memory.
May his memory be a blessing.