Originally aired on Israel’s investigative program Uvda, the video includes an introduction, English subtitles, and concluding words from Rabbi Doron Perez at Har Herzl, speaking about the spirit of the IDF and the need for unity today.
Nachal Oz was the hardest-hit IDF base on the morning of Simchat Torah, October 7th, with 53 soldiers k*lled – one-sixth of all soldiers lost that day – and 10 more taken hostage, including Tank Perez members Daniel Perez, Itay Chen, and Matan Angrest.
Amongst the footage is a remarkable clip of Captain Daniel Perez descending from his tank to give a lost soldier a hug and guidance on that day. This is the last footage that the family has of Daniel.
Though Nachal Oz became a symbol of the IDF’s operational failure, it also stands as a testament to extraordinary courage. The defenders’ fierce stand saved countless lives in the nearby kibbutzim, and their heroism has become legendary.
The tank crew’s courage and camaraderie reflects the spirit of all of our holy defenders of the IDF who we remember on Yom HaZikaron. Yehi Zichram Baruch.