Hamas hostage survivor Matan Angrest attended on Wednesday the funeral of his commander Capt. Daniel Perez, whose body was returned to Israel the day before.
“It was important for me to salute and pay final respects to my commander, Daniel,” said Angrest, who met earlier in the day with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. “Daniel led our heroic battle that Saturday. The circle will only close when Itay Chen is also brought to burial in Israel, together with all our fallen brothers.”
Capt. Perez’s funeral took place Wednesday evening at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem, attended by President Isaac Herzog and former prime minister Naftali Bennett. The procession began from the family home in Yad Binyamin and continued along Derech HaAvot Street, with the family inviting the public to join a procession of honor carrying Israeli flags.
At the cemetery, Angrest delivered a moving eulogy. “I can barely stand,” he said. “This is the least I can do for Daniel and for my entire team—true heroes. I didn’t plan to speak. I didn’t even believe I’d make it here. But I had to come. I’m sure God is watching over them now, that they’re okay, that they’re giving me strength from above. We will keep fighting until Itay Chen comes home. I’m ready to go back into Gaza right now to bring him back.”
Angrest described Perez as a personal hero and a symbol of courage. “Daniel Perez is a hero of Israel, someone to look up to. Anyone who knew him was lucky. He was a legend, a champion, the real deal. I remember him saying, ‘I’m so happy you’re on my team, you’re such a good driver—I want good things for you.’ Seeing him like this now... it’s beyond comprehension. Captivity was nothing compared to this.”
He thanked the Perez family, Daniel’s brother, IDF soldiers, bereaved families and the hostages still missing. “May God protect them all,” he said. “I promise to be there for this family for life—I’m not leaving you, not for a second. Daniel is with me everywhere I go, just like Itay and Tomer. They are part of me. I’m proud we defended Israel under Daniel’s command. He is my hero and will always be my commander.”
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Freed hostage Matan Angrest attends funeral of his revered commander Capt. Daniel Perez
(Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
Closing his remarks, he turned to the crowd: “I feel like Daniel is a part of me. You’ll walk with me to my last day—and, God willing, in the world to come too, along with Itay Chen and Tomer Leibovitz. The country has gone through a terrible upheaval, but we’ll get through it together and support the families. Am Yisrael Chai. May the memory of Daniel Perez, the rest of the team, all the fallen and the hostages be blessed.”
Perez, 22, from Yad Binyamin, was identified Tuesday at the National Center of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv along with hostages Guy Illouz, Bipin Joshi and Yossi Sharabi. He was killed on Oct. 7, 2023, while commanding a tank unit in Nahal Oz during Hamas’ surprise attack.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Daniel was the son of Rabbi Doron Perez, head of the World Mizrachi Movement. The family immigrated to Israel about a decade ago, when Daniel was 13. His brother Yonatan also fought in the Oct. 7 battles and was wounded in the leg. Days later, Yonatan married — without Daniel, who at that point was still listed as missing.
According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Daniel was passionate about extreme sports and, despite an injury from water skiing before his army service, insisted on raising his medical profile so he could join the Armored Corps. He graduated as an outstanding tank commander and later as a top officer cadet.
On Oct. 7, Perez and his tank crew helped repel waves of Hamas terrorists. Alongside him fought Angrest, Staff Sgt. Itay Chen — who is listed as a fallen captive — and Staff Sgt. Tomer Leibovitz, who was killed in the battle.
News of Perez’s death reached his family less than a day after a rally for the hostages in Tel Aviv, where his father had broken down in tears during a public prayer for the soldiers and captives. “Our son came to Israel less than 10 years ago, volunteered for the Armored Corps and did everything he could that day to defend the homeland and save lives,” Rabbi Perez said then. “We’ve spent nearly 160 days not knowing anything about our son, except that he was wounded. Is there anything more humane than giving a sign — what has become of our child?”
Nachal Sorek Regional Council head, where Yad Binyamin is located, said after the holiday ended: “A tearful eye and a grateful heart. We’ve been informed that the body of Capt. Daniel Perez has been returned and identified. The entire council embraces the Perez family in this moment of pain, relief and the closing of a long circle of waiting and hope. May his memory be a blessing.”