Israel confirms identities of hostages' bodies returned by Hamas

The bodies were identified as those of Amiram Cooper and Sahar Baruch, the Israeli prime minister's office said.

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Forensic tests showed the remains were those of Amiram Cooper, 84, and Sahar Baruch, 25, the Israeli prime minister's office said.

"The government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Cooper and [Baruch] families and all the families of the fallen hostages," it said in a statement.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel demanded that all 11 Israeli and foreign deceased hostages still in Gaza be returned immediately by Hamas in line with the US-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Amiram Cooper was abducted along with his wife, Nurit, from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which sparked the war. Hamas released Nurit after 17 days, but it continued to hold Amiram.