Who was Amiram Cooper, one of Kibbutz Nir Oz’s founders murdered in Hamas captivity?

One of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz, Amiram Cooper, was a poet born in Haifa before the founding of the modern State of Israel. His remains were brought back from Gaza.

The remains of slain hostage Amiram Cooper have been identified through forensic testing, following his return from Gaza to Israel for proper burial after more than 2 years of captivity.

Cooper was confirmed as killed in captivity, announced alongside the deaths of Haim Peri, Yoram Metzger, and Nadav Poppelwell. After Peri and Metzger’s bodies were recovered from the Strip by IDF troops, Israeli officials said the state believes they were shot dead by their captors in mid-February 2024.

Cooper, who was 84 at the time of his death, was one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz.

He is survived by his wife, Nurit, age 79, three children, and nine grandchildren. His wife was held captive in Gaza for 17 days before she was released on October 23, 2023.

Cooper was born in Haifa in 1938, before the founding of the modern state, to parents who had fled from Poland. According to his daughter, he would share memories from when he was ten years old, hearing David Ben-Gurion declare the State of Israel over the radio.

He attended the Kadoorie Agricultural High School in the Lower Galilee before coming to Nir Oz in 1957 as one of the kibbutz’s founders. He served as the chief economist of the Ma’or region settlements for many years.

Cooper had also composed songs and poetry for over 60 years. He has written three poetry books and one children’s book. One song by Cooper was “Shibolei Paz” or “Golden Stalks.” This song, recorded for the kibbutz’s 5th anniversary, would become an anthem for Nir Oz celebrations in the years to come.

At a memorial ceremony held by the kibbutz he founded, his daughter Ravit shared touching remarks.

”You left Kibbutz Nir Oz, which you built with your friends. You left your creations – countless poems and melodies, each so unique. You left the family you built – Mom, us, your children, and your grandchildren,” she wrote. “You left your values imprinted on us, and on so many people – friends, colleagues, fellow artists – who knew and loved you.”
“You were an idealist who believed in the kibbutz values of equality, sharing, and hard work,” Ravit said, calling him “the best father in the world. A father full of gentleness and warmth. You never got angry, criticized, or judged. You always saw the person first.”

His poems can be viewed on the website, Shira Ovedet, at this link.

Kibbutz Nir Oz remembers Amiram Cooper

“Amiram Cooper, one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz, saw the development of the Western Negev region as his life’s mission,” said a statement by the kibbutz. “Amiram was a prolific poet and composer. He published three poetry books, and his poems were performed by HaGiva’tron, the Kibbutz Artzi Choir, and the Gilboa Quintet,” they detailed.

The kibbutz also noted Copper’s role in the community’s administration: “Beyond his poetry, Amiram was an economist who served as finance and control manager for communities in the Maon region for over 24 years.”