IDF Declares Death Of Soldier Who Was Killed And Abducted On Oct. 7th

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — BDE: The IDF has announced the death of Captain Daniel Perez, 22, who was killed and abducted by Hamas on October 7.

Perez, from Yad Binyamin, served as a platoon commander in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion, and his body was taken from the Gaza border, following a battle with terrorists during the Hamas onslaught.

His death was recently declared by the Military Rabbinate, based on findings and new intelligence information. The findings allow Perez to be buried according to Jewish law, but his body remains in Gaza.

The IDF expressed its condolences to Captain Perez’s family and vowed to continue its efforts to bring him home.

Perez is the son of World Mizrachi CEO Rabbi Doron Perez, who had two sons involved in the fighting on October 7th, Yonatan and Daniel.

Yonatan was visiting his parents with his fiancée on Simchat Torah, but heeded the call to arms when his military commander urgently summoned anyone with a weapon to Sderot. He embarked on a perilous journey, fighting relentlessly for hours against terrorists.

Wedding of Yonatan Perez, Oct. 17th 2023

Despite being lightly injured, Yonatan emerged as a hero, participating in the rescue of 20 women soldiers and the successful elimination of the terrorists. Miraculously his injury, with a bullet entering and exiting his leg, did not cause any major damage. Just a few days later, Yonatan was able to celebrate his wedding, although the family were besides themselves with worry over Daniel.

הרב דורון פרץ אבא של דניאל נשבר בתפילה לשלום חיילינו ולשובם של חטופינו 💔🎗️ואנחנו נשברנו איתו וזעקנו איתו אמן pic.twitter.com/PlgSyuswE1

— Ayelet Nahmiasverbin🇮🇱🎗️ (@Ayeletnnv) March 16, 2024

Rabbi Perez prays for the welfare of the hostages, just a day before the death of his son was announced

Daniel served as a platoon commander in the armor brigade. On Simchat Torah, his tank went missing in battle. The family faced an agonizing wait, only learning of the tank’s discovery days later. The tank’s crew had sustained casualties, with one soldier killed – Tomer Leibovich – and three others, including Daniel, unaccounted for. The current tragic statement of the IDF about Daniel’s death comes after a five-month wait for information about his whereabouts.