Who was Gaza hostage Sahar Baruch, killed during failed IDF rescue mission?
Baruch, a talented chess player and anime fan, lived in Kibbutz Be’eri and had just returned from his big trip to South America before the October 7 massacre.
The remains of slain hostage Sahar Baruch have been identified through forensic testing, following his return from Gaza to Israel for proper burial after more than two years of captivity in Gaza.
Sahar was 24 years old when he was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri in the October 7 massacre in 2023. In the months ensuing his capture, Baruch was kept in horrendous conditions under Hamas captivity until he was killed in December of 2023 during what the IDF said was a failed rescue attempt.
Baruch lived in Kibbutz Be’eri and had just returned from his big trip to South America when he was killed. According to the Coming Home Soon initiative, an organization focused on illuminating the stories behind the hostages, Baruch was planning to start studying electrical and computer engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
He was described as a great chess player who loved anime movies. His sense of humor and brains were his defining features, as his family could always count on him to raise their spirits.
On October 7, Baruch was staying in his mother’s house with his brother Idan when they were attacked. Before the brothers could make it to the safe room, terrorists threw grenades into the house, severely injuring Idan with shrapnel. They eventually made it to the saferoom, but failed to lock it, so they used a cabinet to block the door.
IDF soldiers salute the bodies of hostages Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)
While Baruch was trying to treat Ilan’s wound, terrorists started a fire in the house, forcing the brothers to escape out of a window. Ilan jumped out first while Baruch stayed behind, searching for his brother’s inhaler.
The two then split up, and terrorists seized and murdedred Ilan while Baruch was abducted to the Gaza Strip.
IDF fails to confirm cause of Baruch’s death in failed rescue
Baruch was held in Hamas captivity for around three months before being killed during a failed IDF operation. His death had been announced on December 9, 2023 as having occurred while in Hamas’s custody.
The IDF neither confirmed nor denied whether he was killed by the IDF or during the rescue attempt itself. Sahar is survived by his parents, Tammi and Roni Baruch, and his brothers Guy and Niv.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.
