Israeli hostage killed during botched rescue attempt, IDF reveals

It’s uncertain whether Hamas killed Sahar Baruch or if Israeli fire caused his death.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

The parents of hostage Sahar Baruch (25) from Kibbutz Be’eri were informed on Wednesday that their son had been killed during an IDF attempt to rescue him from captivity in Gaza on December 8th.

It’s uncertain whether Hamas killed Sahar Baruch or if Israeli fire caused his death.

Also unclear is at what phase of the rescue operation Sahar Baruch died.

On December 8th, Hamas released a video of Sahar Baruch’s body next to IDF equipment and blamed the IDF for his death.

Shortly after the operation, the IDF announced two soldiers had been seriously wounded while attempting to rescue a hostage.

The IDF announced on Wednesday, “We are working in all ways, intelligence and operational, to return the hostages home.”

Currently, it is believed that 129 hostages are still being held in Gaza, although not all of them are alive.

The IDF has confirmed the deaths of 23 of the hostages based on intelligence findings and testimony.

Sahar is survived by his parents Tami and Roni Baruch and his brothers Guy and Niv who recall that he had recently returned from a trip to South America and was looking forward to attending Ben Gurion University to pursue a degree in electrical engineering.

Sahar’s aunt Meirav Barkai described Sahar’s escape, his attempts to save his brother Idan, and his kidnapping.

When terrorists invaded Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7th, Sahar and his brother Idan were in their mother’s home and when the sirens sounded they hid in the bomb shelter.

They couldn’t manage to close the door and terrorists threw grenades into the shelter wounding Idan.

As the bomb shelter and the house caught fire, both brothers jumped out the window, but Idan was shot and killed as he was trying to escape and Sahar was taken hostage.