Rabbi Doron Perez is the father of fallen IDF soldier Captain Daniel Perez.
Daniel (22), 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 on October 7.
The IDF informed his family that he had been taken captive on October 7th, but there was no signs that he had been killed in the attack, so he was presumed to still be alive.
After 163 agonizing days, the Perez family were informed by the IDF that Daniel had been killed on October 7th.
Rabbi Perez explains: On Oct. 7, our son Daniel, an officer and commander of his tank crew, was based in the Nachal Oz army base in southern Israel. They fought courageously and valiantly for two and a quarter hours until their tank was eventually overrun by Hamas terrorists.
Their tank’s position was between Kibbutz Nachal Oz and the Gaza border, and they did all they could between 6:45 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. to prevent the first two waves of terrorists from entering the base and the kibbutz. In their final battle, they saw hordes of invading terrorists on motorbikes crossing the border. Without fear or hesitation, Daniel and his crew left the security of their position to try to cut the terrorists off and to prevent their murderous intentions. After a brave battle, their tank was eventually overrun.
Tomer’s body was found in the tank later that day; Daniel and two other soldiers, Itai and Matan, were taken captive."