An Israel Defense Forces officer thought to be among the hostages held by Hamas was actually killed in the terrorists’ Oct. 7 attack, the military announced.
Cpt. Daniel Perez, 22, was killed while serving as a platoon commander in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion, the IDF said Sunday, according to the Times of Israel.
His body was then taken by Hamas over the border into the Gaza Strip, where it is still being held, according to officials.
Until Sunday, Perez had been listed as one of the over 200 people abducted by the terror group during the onslaught.
The IDF’s rabbi declared him dead based on new findings and intelligence, the Times of Israel explained.
Perez was mourned at a funeral in Jerusalem on Monday, the Jerusalem Post reported.
A coffin containing his blood that was taken from his tank’s battle site was buried in lieu of his body, the outlet noted.
“You not only saved the lives of many others, but you may have also saved the life of your brother [Yonatan] who was fighting only some meters from you at Kibbutz Nahal Oz,” Perez’s father, Rabbi Doron Perez, said of his son during the emotional service.
“I thank God for saving Yonatan, but I don’t know why he chose you for that mission. It is as if your whole life’s journey led you to be ready for that mission and you were.” the grieving father added.
Daniel Perez was born in South Africa and moved to Israel with his family in 2014.
His brother, Yonatan Perez, was injured on Oct. 7, but recovered in time to move ahead with his wedding two weeks later, the Times of Israel said.
Rabbi Doron Perez is the executive chairman of the World Mizrachi Movement.
“Over the past 163 days, we have desperately davened [prayed] for better news. Throughout that time, the Perez family has inspired us and strengthened us as we have sought to strengthen them,” Rabbi Danny Mirvis, the acting CEO of the Zionist group, said in a statement on the young soldier’s death.