The hostages featured in a Hamas propaganda video were killed during a desperate rescue operation by Israeli forces, the military has confirmed.
The Israel Defense Forces initially denied Hamas' claims that Sahar Baruch, a 25-year-old electrical engineering student abducted from Kibbutz Beeri on October 7, was killed in a hostage release operation.
But on Wednesday, the agency notified Baruch's family that their son's death occurred during a special forces mission on the night of Dec. 7. The Times of Israel reported.
“Our hearts are with the family of Sahar Baluch, who was brutally abducted by Hamas, a terrorist organization that continues to perpetrate psychological warfare and inhumane acts,” the IDF said in a statement. According to Haaretz.
“We view Hamas as responsible for the well-being of the hostages and that they will continue to wage psychological warfare against Israel and the world through the distribution of these videos and other means in order to achieve their murderous objectives. I look forward to it,” he added.
The military said it could not determine the cause of death, and could not determine whether it was a mutual attack during a failed attack or a terrorist attack.
Two soldiers were seriously injured during the rescue operation, the newspaper said.
Baruch's death was first announced on December 9 in a joint statement released by Kibbutz Beli and the Hostage and Missing Families Forum. His body has not yet been returned.
He was abducted along with his grandmother and soldier brother Idan from a kibbutz on the day terrorists launched their attack on the Jewish state.
The Israel Defense Forces “will continue to accompany the Baruch family and other families of the hostages if necessary,” it said, adding that it was “working in every possible way, both intelligence and operational, to bring the hostages home.”
Authorities believe 129 hostages remain in Gaza after 105 civilians were freed by Hamas during a ceasefire in late November, but not all are believed to be alive.
Before that, four hostages were released. One of the hostages, Ori Megidish, was rescued by the IDF. The bodies of eight hostages were also recovered, three of whom were accidentally killed by Israeli soldiers.
Kibbutz Beeri and the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said in a statement: “It is with great sadness and heartbreak that we announce the murder of Sahar Baluch, who was abducted from his home in Gaza by Hamas terrorists and murdered there.”
“His younger brother Idan was killed by Hamas on October 7th. We share the unbearable sadness of his parents, Tami and Roni, his brothers Guy and Niv, his family and all his loved ones. ” they wrote about Ben-Gurion University. student.
“We will demand the return of his body as part of the hostage return agreement. We will not stop until everyone is home,” the statement added.
Shortly before the Hamas attack, Baruch had returned from a trip to South America, was looking forward to the start of the new school year, and was planning to find a place to live in the Negev desert city of Beersheba.
“It hurts more to be burnt to death,” Baruch wrote in his last message to his mother, according to Haaretz, which is likely a sign that he and his younger brother had left the safe room before fleeing the blaze. It was probably to explain why.
