JNS
Addressing the Trump team at his son's funeral, Rabbi Doron Perez declared, "We are all forever grateful."
Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday night delivered a solemn eulogy at the funeral at Jerusalem's Mount Herzl Military Cemetery of IDF Capt. Daniel Perez, whose body was returned to Israel this week as part of the Gaza deal initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Daniel led his soldiers with responsibility, with faith in the justice of their cause and with boundless love for his people and his homeland," said Herzog. "He fought until the last drop of blood, embodying the very spirit of the Israeli warrior—steadfast, moral and brave. Today, the son of the nation returns to his soil, to our soil.”
Perez, 22, a South African immigrant from Yad Binyamin who became a revered tank commander in the 7th Armored Brigade’s 77th Battalion, was killed while leading a heroic battle against the terrorists who invaded Nahal Oz on Oct. 7, 2023, after which his body was seized by Hamas and taken to Gaza.
When the IDF declared his death in March 2024 following an investigation by the military rabbinate, his family held a first funeral on Mount Herzl. His remains were added to the grave during his second funeral on Wednesday, which was livestreamed on YouTube.
Daniel Perez made aliyah from South Africa in 2014 with his parents and three siblings. His father, Rabbi Doron Perez, serves as executive chairman of the World Mizrachi Movement.
Switching from Hebrew to English in his eulogy, his father thanked all those involved in striking the deal, particularly Trump and his team, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his government and Israeli security forces, as well as friends in South Africa and around the world. "We are all forever grateful," he said.
"Thanks to President Trump, to Steve Witkoff, to Jared Kushner and to all of those involved in the Trump administration for your absolute and unconditional support for the State of Israel, in supporting our soldiers and our government, and making sure that such a seemingly impossible agreement would happen," he added, expressing gratitude for the return of the last 20 live hostages while insisting that there could be no closure until all 28 bodies held in Gaza are returned.
Among those attending the funeral was newly released hostage Matan Angrest, who served under Perez at Nahal Oz. "It was important for me to salute and pay final respects to my commander, Daniel, of blessed memory, who led our heroic battle on that fateful Saturday," Angrest said. "The circle will only be complete when Itay Chen is laid to rest in Israeli soil, together with all the fallen."
Chen, 19, a dual American-Israeli citizen serving in the IDF, was also killed by Hamas terrorists at Nahal Oz on Oct. 7, and his body was taken to Gaza.
In his remarks, Herzog said: “At this moment, so full of pain, here on the mountain of heroism and rebirth, the mountain of longing, of tears and of faith in the justice of our path, I wish to address all the bereaved families, to bow my head in reverence, and to say thank you, on behalf of the State of Israel."
He continued, "Thank you for the sons you raised, warriors of courage who did not hesitate when called to rescue the State of Israel, to fight the enemy and to bring the hostages home; warriors who carried pictures of the hostages in their pockets and courage and strength in their hearts.
"Because of these brave sons and daughters, because of the bereaved families, because of the wounded who sacrificed so much— because of all of them, we have reached this moment. A moment that brings hope to our people and to our entire region, a moment that will be remembered forever in the history of our nation.”
Expressing deep solidarity with all the bereaved families, the wounded and the returned hostages, Herzog reaffirmed the moral and national obligation to bring back every fallen soldier and hostage held in Gaza.
“We must not stop, we must not tire, we must not give up or accept a reality in which any of our fallen have yet to return," he concluded. "The mission is not yet complete. We will continue until all are home.”
