October 7 · Personal story
Amiram Cooper
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
Kibbutz Nir Oz
Current outcome
Returned for burial · October 30, 2025
His identified remains were returned to Israel for burial on 30 October 2025.
01
Life before
Amiram Cooper was born in Haifa in 1938, the eldest child in his family. He grew up there, joined Hashomer Hatzair and studied at Kadoorie Agricultural School from age fifteen, aiming to become a farmer and build a kibbutz in the Negev. At eighteen, he joined the founding group of Nir Oz. He and Nurit built their life there and raised four children, including an adopted son. Cooper worked in agriculture, studied agricultural economics, managed the Nirlat paint factory and later held finance and oversight roles. He continued studying into later life and began doctoral work. He also wrote poems and songs, published books, and wrote the words and music for “Shibolei Paz,” a song associated with the kibbutz’s Shavuot celebrations.
02
Abduction
On 7 October 2023, Amiram and Nurit were at home in Nir Oz. They sheltered together as attackers entered the kibbutz, then were abducted to Gaza. Nurit was released on 23 October 2023. Their separation left Amiram in captivity while his wife returned to Israel.
03
Captivity
A video made by his captors in December 2023 provided a sign of life. On 3 June 2024, his family was informed that Cooper had died in captivity. The National Insurance Institute lists 14 February 2024 in its structured date field, while its biography estimates his death at around 12 February.
04
Return
Cooper’s remains were identified and returned to Israel on 30 October 2025, after more than two years in Gaza. The Jerusalem Post reported that forensic testing identified his remains after their return from Gaza. This was the return of his remains for burial, not a living release. The family laid him to rest in Nir Oz on 2 November 2025.
05
Aftermath
Cooper’s life joined community work, economic planning and writing. He believed in peace and remained committed to Nir Oz despite the security tension near the Gaza border. His family remembered his optimistic presence and the rhyming birthday greetings he wrote for relatives. “Shibolei Paz,” written for the kibbutz’s fifth anniversary in 1960, was later performed by the Gevatron and became a song for Shavuot gatherings and folk dancing. The National Insurance Institute profile records his wife, children and grandchildren, and says he was buried in the community he helped establish. His children and grandchildren remembered a writer whose songs belonged to shared kibbutz occasions as well as to his own books.