On Thursday afternoon, Israel confirmed the identities of two deceased hostages whose remains were returned from Gaza by Hamas via the Red Cross, marking a poignant moment in the ongoing and fraught process of hostage repatriation. The two men, Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch, had been held in Gaza since their abduction during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Their return, after more than two years of anguish for their families, comes amid intense scrutiny of the ceasefire agreement and a backdrop of renewed violence and political tension.
According to a statement released by the Israeli prime minister’s office, the remains were received and transported to Israel’s national forensics laboratory for identification. Amiram Cooper, aged 84, was one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a community near the Gaza border that suffered devastating losses during the 2023 attack. His family had been notified in June 2024 that he was killed in captivity, though the precise circumstances of his death remain unclear. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) believe Cooper was killed around February 2024. In a moving tribute, the kibbutz described Cooper as “a man of people and of words, a pioneer with values, a person of initiative and ideas who so deeply loved the kibbutz and its members.”
Sahar Baruch, 25, was also taken hostage on October 7, 2023, from his mother’s home in Kibbutz Be’eri. The attack that claimed his freedom also killed his brother and grandmother. Baruch’s ordeal ended tragically two months later when he was killed during a failed rescue attempt in Gaza. In a statement, his kibbutz said, “In this difficult and painful moment, we hope the family can find a measure of comfort in the closing of a horrific circle of 755 days and nights.”
The return of Cooper and Baruch’s remains leaves 11 deceased hostages still in Gaza, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office. The statement underscored the government’s commitment: “The effort to bring back our hostages continues uninterrupted and will not cease until the return of the last hostage.”
This latest transfer came at a critical juncture for the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which has been brokered by the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. The ceasefire, which took effect on October 10, 2025, had already been sorely tested just days before the handover. On October 28, Israeli officials accused Hamas of violating the agreement after the group handed over a coffin containing human remains that, after forensic analysis, were identified as belonging to Ofir Tzarfati—a hostage whose body had already been recovered by Israeli forces in Gaza in late 2023. The Israeli military subsequently released drone footage showing Hamas members removing a body bag from a building in Gaza City, reburying it, and then staging its discovery in front of Red Cross staff.
In response, the Red Cross stated, “It is unacceptable that a fake recovery was staged, when so much depends on this agreement being upheld and when so many families are still anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.” Hamas, for its part, rejected what it called “baseless allegations” and accused Israel of “seeking to fabricate false pretexts in preparation for taking new aggressive steps.”
Further complicating the situation, Israeli officials accused Hamas fighters of killing an Israeli soldier during an attack in southern Gaza on October 28. Hamas denied involvement in the incident in Rafah, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a wave of air strikes across Gaza in response. The Israeli military claimed to have attacked “dozens of terror targets and terrorists.”
The consequences were devastating. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, 104 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strikes on October 28, including 46 children and 20 women. This marked the deadliest day since the ceasefire began, underscoring the volatility and fragility of the truce. The ministry’s figures also highlight the staggering human cost of the conflict: since Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza in response to the October 2023 attack, more than 68,600 people have been killed, including over 200 since the ceasefire took effect.
Despite these setbacks, both Hamas and Israeli officials have insisted that they remain committed to the US-brokered ceasefire. US President Donald Trump, whose administration played a key role in securing the agreement, stated on October 29 that “nothing’s going to jeopardize” the Gaza ceasefire. However, he also issued a stern warning, saying he would “take out Hamas very easily” if necessary. On October 30, he reiterated that nothing would threaten the ceasefire, but added that Israel should “hit back” when its soldiers are targeted.
The ceasefire agreement, brokered with the help of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, stipulated that Hamas would return 20 living and 28 dead hostages within 72 hours. All living Israeli hostages were released on October 13, 2025, in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza. In addition, Israel has handed over the bodies of 195 Palestinians in exchange for the bodies of 13 Israeli hostages (and two foreign hostages—one Thai and one Nepalese) so far returned by Hamas.
Of the 13 dead hostages whose bodies remain in Gaza, eleven are Israeli, one is Tanzanian, and one is Thai. All but one of these hostages were among the 251 people abducted during the October 7, 2023, attack, which also resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel. The initial attack on communities like Nir Oz and Be’eri left a deep scar on Israeli society, and the ongoing efforts to retrieve hostages have become a symbol of national resolve and collective mourning.
The process of returning the deceased has not been without confusion and controversy. Just days before the latest transfer, Hamas announced it would hand over the remains of a hostage, only to retract the offer hours later, citing Israeli bombardment. The previous handover of Ofir Tzarfati’s remains, which had already been recovered, was denounced by Israeli officials as a “clear violation” of the ceasefire deal.
As the families of Cooper and Baruch prepare to mourn their loved ones, their return serves as a bittersweet reminder of the human cost behind the headlines and the ongoing struggle to bring closure to those left behind. The situation remains tense, with the ceasefire constantly at risk and the fate of the remaining hostages uncertain. Yet, for two families, at least, a long and harrowing chapter has finally reached its end.
