South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met Monday with Rabbi Doron Perez and his wife, Shelley, the parents of Israeli Defense Forces Capt. Daniel Perez, whose remains were held by Hamas following the October 7th, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel.
The meeting in Pretoria came after the Perez family expressed gratitude to Ramaphosa and the South African government for their behind-the-scenes intervention in helping secure the return of Daniel’s remains.
Rabbi Perez said the government’s direct involvement helped spare the family additional months of uncertainty and pain.
Daniel Perez, 22, was born in Johannesburg and later moved with his family to Israel.
He served as a platoon commander in the IDF’s 77th Battalion. During the October 7th attack, Perez and his tank crew fought Hamas terrorists for more than two hours while defending the Nahal Oz military post and surrounding communities. Their tank was eventually overrun.
The October 7th attack began when Hamas-led militants crossed from Gaza into southern Israel, attacking communities and military positions. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
The assault triggered the war in Gaza and a prolonged international effort to secure the release of hostages and recover the remains of those who died.
Perez was initially considered missing and possibly a hostage. After 163 days, Israeli authorities informed his family that he had been killed on Oct. 7. His remains were ultimately returned to Israel from Gaza on Oct. 13, 2025, and he was given a second funeral at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl cemetery.
The meeting is notable because South Africa has maintained highly strained diplomatic relations with Israel since the attack, including bringing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Ramaphosa expressed condolences to the Perez family and said South Africa remains committed to assisting people caught in conflict zones, regardless of nationality or religion.
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