IDF confirms death of Nir Oz founder Amiram Cooper, 84, while captive in Gaza
Held in the same underground room with other hostages captured on October 7, wife Nurit was released October 23
On June 3, 2024, after obtaining new intelligence, the Israeli military confirmed the death of Israeli hostage Amiram Cooper, 84, who was killed in Hamas captivity. Below are the initial reports of his capture and its aftermath:
Amiram Cooper, 84, one of the founders of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7 as they launched an assault on the community, killing and abducting one-quarter of the kibbutz residents.
Cooper’s wife, Nurit, was released on October 23 with Yocheved Lifshitz and is now recuperating with her family.
She has told her family about the brutal abduction. The terrorists shot at the front door, forcibly taking Nurit and Amiram from the house.
Amiram and Nurit were held in the same room underground, along with five other kibbutz members, according to their son, Rotem Cooper, in a Ynet interview.
Throughout the captivity, it was impossible to grasp whether it was day or night, said Rotem Cooper.
He and his mother believe that when she was taken from the room, his father probably figured out that she was being released.
Amiram Cooper is an economist who worked for many years as the chief economist of the Ma’on region settlements. He is also a poet and composer, with several published books of poetry, plays and articles dealing with politics and economics.
The couple has three children and nine grandchildren, and Amiram has always seen the establishment of Nir Oz and the settlement of the Western Negev as his life’s mission.
