Cyril Ramaphosa meets Perez family after government intervention to return remains

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with the family of the late Captain Daniel Perez following a government intervention to facilitate the release of his remains from Hamas in Gaza. Perez, who was born and raised in South Africa, was taken hostage and killed on October 7, 2023.

The Presidency confirmed that the South African government worked behind the scenes to assist in the repatriation process, though specific details regarding the channels used remain undisclosed due to the sensitivity of the matter. The Perez family expressed their gratitude to the President and the government for their role in bringing their son back to Israel for burial.

During the meeting, President Ramaphosa expressed his condolences and reaffirmed South Africa’s support for an all-inclusive peace process for Israel and Palestine. The Presidency noted that this intervention is part of a broader commitment to assist South African citizens caught in international conflict zones.