Kibbutz Nir Oz Confirms Return of Abductee Amiram Cooper; Sahar Baruch Also Brought Back to Israel

Kibbutz Nir Oz confirmed Thursday evening that one of the two abductees whose bodies were returned earlier by Hamas is Amiram Cooper, 85, the kibbutz’s last remaining abductee.
Cooper, an economist, farmer, poet, and one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was kidnapped from his home during the October 7 massacre.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office described Cooper as “a beloved husband to Nurit, father of Rotem, Ravit, Lotan, and Sharulik, and grandfather of 11 grandchildren.”

“He was a member of Hashomer Hatzair, a pioneer and kibbutznik who saw the settlement of the western Negev as his life’s mission,” the statement said.
“We will always remember Amiram as a man of people and words — a man of values, initiative, and deep love for his community.”

Cooper served as chief economist for the Ma’on settlements for 24 years, in addition to decades of work in agriculture and kibbutz management. He also authored plays, articles, and poetry collections celebrating rural life and human spirit.

Nir Oz: “A Painful Circle Closed — But the Struggle Continues”

Following the identification, Kibbutz Nir Oz released a powerful statement marking the end of its 755-day ordeal:

“There are now no abductees from Kibbutz Nir Oz in captivity. On October 7, 76 people were kidnapped from our community, and our home became the epicenter of a national tragedy.
Now, with the return of our last abductee, we can begin to heal and mourn the 65 loved ones who will never return. Alongside this painful closure, we continue to stand with the 11 families still waiting for their loved ones.”

Sahar Baruch of Kibbutz Be’eri Also Returned

The second abductee whose body was returned is Sahar Baruch, 25, from Kibbutz Be’eri. Baruch was kidnapped alive on October 7 after trying to flee through a window with his brother, Idan, as terrorists stormed and set fire to their home.

Two months later, in December 2023, his family was informed that he had been killed during an IDF rescue attempt in Khan Yunis. The IDF confirmed that Baruch died in the exchange of fire during the operation.

His family — parents Tami and Roni, and brothers Guy and Niv — had campaigned tirelessly for his return. His brother Idan and grandmother Geula Bachar were murdered in the same attack.

Baruch had recently returned from a trip to South America and was preparing to begin studies in electrical engineering at Ben-Gurion University.

Kibbutz Be’eri issued a statement mourning his loss:

“We embrace Sahar’s family, who fought day and night for his return. The circle of horrors of 755 days has closed, but our demand for the full implementation of the deal continues — until every last abductee is home.”

Intelligence Errors and Ongoing Tensions

The December 2023 rescue mission that led to Baruch’s death was marred by intelligence errors. According to IDF accounts, Sayeret Matkal commandos entered the building quietly, detonating a small charge at the entrance, but were met with a barrage of grenades, delaying the extraction and forcing a retreat under fire.

The terrorists later escaped with Baruch’s body.

11 Abductees Still Held in Gaza

Despite recent returns, 11 Israeli abductees remain in Gaza, including:
Captain Omer Nowtra, Major General Ran Gueili, Sergeant Itai Chen, Sergeant Oz Daniel, Colonel Assaf Hammi, Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, Dror Or, Manny Goddard, Lior Rudaif, Joshua Luito Molal, and Sontisek Rintalk.

Israeli intelligence officials believe Hamas is using the remaining captives as leverage amid ongoing negotiations with the U.S. and Egypt over the international stabilization force and Gaza’s reconstruction plan.

“As long as Hamas can use the hostages as bargaining chips, it will delay progress,” a senior Israeli source said. “Every return is a victory — but the mission is far from over.”