Israel confirmed on Thursday that it had identified the remains of hostages Amiram Kuper and Sahar Baruch, whose bodies were handed over by Hamas earlier in the day.
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office revealed that the victims’ families had been notified following “completion of the identification process by the National Institute of Forensic Medicine.”
Hamas abducted 251 people during its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, sparking the ongoing war in Gaza. Sahar Baruch, 25, was captured from kibbutz Beeri and later killed during a failed Israeli military rescue operation two months after his abduction. Amiram Kuper, then 84, was kidnapped alongside his wife Nourit Kuper from their home in kibbutz Nir Oz. Israel had already confirmed his death in captivity in June 2024.
According to Israeli officials, Hamas has so far returned the remains of 17 out of 28 deceased hostages it agreed to hand over under a US-mediated truce deal. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum extended sympathy to the bereaved families and called for the immediate return of the remaining hostages’ bodies.
Meanwhile, Israel launched heavy airstrikes on Gaza overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday in retaliation for an attack that killed an Israeli soldier in the south of the territory. Gaza’s civil defence agency, operating under Hamas, reported that over 100 people were killed, including dozens of children, in what it described as the deadliest night of bombing since the ceasefire began on October 10.
By Wednesday morning, Israel announced that it had resumed “renewed enforcement of the ceasefire.” Both US President Donald Trump and mediator Qatar expressed optimism that the truce would remain intact.
Hamas denied any role in the Rafah shooting that triggered the airstrikes and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the ceasefire. However, it delayed returning another set of remains, warning that further escalation could hinder efforts to locate and recover the remaining bodies.
Earlier in the week, Hamas faced backlash in Israel after handing over partial remains of a previously identified captive, which Israeli authorities said violated the truce agreement. While Hamas claimed the remains were part of the 16th body due for return, forensic tests revealed they belonged to a hostage whose body had been brought back to Israel nearly two years earlier.
Since the beginning of this month’s ceasefire, Hamas has released 20 surviving hostages and initiated the process of returning deceased captives’ remains. Israeli officials accuse the group of breaching the agreement by stalling the process, while Hamas maintains it needs more time to recover the remains buried under Gaza’s widespread devastation.
What You Should Know
The deaths of Amiram Kuper and Sahar Baruch highlight the human toll of the Israel-Hamas conflict and the ongoing struggle to bring closure to families of the hostages.
Despite a fragile truce, tensions persist as both sides trade blame over delays in returning the bodies. Israel insists Hamas is violating the terms of their US-brokered deal, while Hamas cites logistical challenges amid Gaza’s destruction.
The situation underscores the fragile balance between humanitarian commitments and political hostilities in the war-torn region.
