Israeli Prime Minister’s Office Confirms Identities of Deceased Hostages Returned by Hamas
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has officially confirmed the identities of two deceased hostages whose remains were received from Hamas via the Red Cross in Gaza on Thursday. Forensic examinations revealed that the remains belong to Amiram Cooper, aged 84, and Sahar Baruch, aged 25. In a heartfelt statement, the Israeli government expressed its deep condolences to the families of Cooper and Baruch, as well as to all families mourning their loved ones.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing the families of the hostages, has urgently called for the immediate return of all 11 deceased Israeli and foreign hostages still held in Gaza, in accordance with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
Amiram Cooper was taken hostage along with his wife, Nurit, during the Hamas-led attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. While Nurit was released after 17 days, Amiram remained in captivity. The Israeli military estimates that Amiram was murdered while in captivity in February 2024, with final conclusions pending a post-mortem examination. Early reports indicated that he may have been killed alongside three other hostages during military operations in Khan Younis, although Hamas claimed they were killed by an Israeli airstrike.
Sahar Baruch was abducted during the attack on Kibbutz Be’eri, where Hamas militants also tragically killed his brother, Edan, and grandmother, Geula Bachar. The Israeli military estimates that he was murdered on December 8, 2023, and is awaiting post-mortem results to confirm this. There were earlier reports suggesting he was killed during an Israeli rescue attempt.
The military extended its heartfelt condolences to the families of both men and reiterated that Hamas must fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire agreement, which includes making efforts to return all hostages for a dignified burial.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed the profound pain of those affected, stating, "There are no words to express the depth of this pain. The hostages have no time. We must bring them all home, now!"
In a related incident on Tuesday, Hamas fighters were accused of violating the ceasefire by handing over a body bag containing remains that did not belong to any of the 13 deceased hostages still in Gaza. Forensic tests revealed the remains belonged to Ofir Tzarfati, a hostage whose body was recovered by Israeli forces in late 2023. The Israeli military released footage showing Hamas members moving the body bag and staging the discovery in front of Red Cross staff, a process the Red Cross deemed "unacceptable."
Hamas has dismissed these allegations as baseless, claiming Israel is fabricating reasons for further aggression. Hours later, reports emerged that an Israeli soldier was killed in an attack in southern Gaza, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order airstrikes across Gaza. The Israeli military stated it targeted numerous positions associated with Hamas.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, the airstrikes resulted in the deaths of 104 Palestinians, including 46 children and 20 women, marking it as the deadliest day since the ceasefire began on October 10.
U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized the importance of preserving the ceasefire agreement, which was facilitated by the U.S., Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. However, he also indicated that Israel should retaliate if its soldiers were attacked. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hamas was expected to return 20 living and 28 deceased hostages within 72 hours.
As of now, all living Israeli hostages were released on October 13 in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. Israel has since returned the remains of 195 Palestinians in exchange for the 15 Israeli hostages returned by Hamas, as well as two foreign hostages—a Thai and a Nepalese citizen. Of the 11 deceased hostages still in Gaza, nine are Israeli, one is Tanzanian, and one is Thai.
The tragic events of October 7, 2023, resulted in the abduction of 251 individuals, while approximately 1,200 others lost their lives. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, which has led to significant casualties, with over 68,600 reported dead, including more than 200 since the ceasefire began, according to the territory’s health ministry.
This ongoing conflict has brought immense sorrow and pain to countless families, and the urgent call for the return of hostages continues to resonate across the region and beyond.
