President Cyril Ramaphosa has met the family of South African born Captain Daniel Perez, as the Presidency highlighted the government’s intervention in securing the return of the slain soldier’s remains from Hamas.
The meeting between Ramaphosa and the Perez family comes almost three years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel, in which Perez was killed and his remains taken to Gaza.
The Presidency said Ramaphosa conveyed his condolences to the family and reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to an inclusive peace process capable of delivering lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.
The meeting also puts Pretoria’s diplomatic role in the Israel Palestine conflict under renewed scrutiny, given South Africa’s outspoken opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and its legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
According to the Presidency, South Africa’s intervention in the Perez matter forms part of a broader government effort to assist citizens caught up in international conflicts.
“The South African government remains engaged in assisting all South Africans, irrespective of race or religion, that are ensnared in conflict zones,” the Presidency said.
It said this included assistance to foreign nationals where such support was requested.
The government cited its involvement in facilitating the release of South Africans trapped in the war in Syria, assisting citizens who were allegedly sold to Russian mercenaries and helping with the safe return of Ukrainian children.
Perez was born and raised in Johannesburg before his family moved to Israel in 2014. He later served in the Israel Defence Forces as a tank commander in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armoured Brigade.
He was killed while fighting Hamas during the October 7 attack. His death was formally confirmed by the IDF in March 2024, after he had initially been regarded as a hostage.
His remains were eventually returned to Israel in October 2025 as part of a ceasefire and hostage agreement. International and Israeli media reported that Hamas handed over his remains through the International Committee of the Red Cross. Perez was buried at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl military cemetery on October 15, 2025.
The South African Jewish Report reported that Perez’s remains were returned after his family endured months of uncertainty following confirmation of his death.
His father, Rabbi Doron Perez, is a prominent South African born Jewish religious leader who had publicly campaigned for the return of his son’s remains.
The case has also previously featured in South Africa’s political debate. Parliament recorded calls for the government to intervene in securing the return of Perez’s remains, highlighting the significance of his South African roots.
The Presidency’s latest statement comes as the Gaza conflict remains a major fault line in international diplomacy, with South Africa maintaining a strongly pro Palestinian position while insisting that its approach is rooted in international law and the protection of civilian lives.
Pretoria instituted proceedings against Israel at the ICJ in December 2023 under the Genocide Convention, alleging that Israel was committing genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has rejected the allegations.
South Africa has consistently called for an end to hostilities and a negotiated political settlement that recognises the rights and security of both Palestinians and Israelis.
The Presidency said Ramaphosa’s meeting with the Perez family should be viewed within this broader commitment to assisting people caught in conflict.
The government also stressed that its assistance is not limited by race or religion, saying South Africans caught in wars and other conflict situations would continue to receive support.
For the Perez family, however, the meeting marked a deeply personal chapter in a tragedy that began on October 7, 2023, when their son was killed and his remains were taken to Gaza.
