Israeli Hostage Dies in Failed Rescue Operation
©(Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)
Israel's military verified on Wednesday that a hostage abducted during the October 7 Hamas attack met a tragic end during an failed army rescue operation in December within the Gaza Strip.

Israel's military confirmed Wednesday that a hostage kidnapped in the October 7 Hamas attack was killed during a failed army rescue operation in December in the Gaza Strip.

Sahar Baruch, among 250 hostages seized by Palestinian militants and taken to Gaza after the shock attack on southern Israel, was confirmed dead last month by his kibbutz community.

The army said it had notified Baruch's family that he was killed during "an attempt to rescue him on December 8".

"At this stage, we are unable to determine the circumstances around his death and whether he was killed by (Israeli) fire or murdered by Hamas," the army said in a statement.


Hamas announced Baruch's death on December 9, stating he was killed during an attempted rescue and released a video showing his remains.

The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Among the hostages taken to Gaza, some 129 remain in captivity, according to Israel.

In response to the deadliest attack in its history, Israel launched a relentless offensive that has reduced vast swathes of Gaza to rubble and claimed over 22,300 lives, according to the territory's Health Ministry.

Khalil Wakim, with AFP
This Is Beirut
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