Devastating
IDF Returns Four Fallen Hostages to Israel - These are Their Stories
Israel mourns as the remains of four fallen hostages, Guy Iluz, Daniel Peretz, Yossi Sharabi, and Bipin Joshi, are returned home, marking a solemn moment for grieving families amid ongoing efforts to recover all captives. The nation honors their memory and vows relentless pursuit until every hostage is brought back.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced that, following the completion of identification procedures by the National Center for Forensic Medicine in coordination with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate, IDF representatives informed the families of fallen hostages Guy Iluz, Lt. Col. Daniel Peretz, Yossi Sharabi, and Bipin Joshi that their loved ones have been returned to Israel and formally identified.
Cpt. Daniel Peretz (Perez) was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. At age 13, he immigrated to Israel with his family. He had a deep love for sports, especially extreme and challenging activities. Before his enlistment, he suffered an injury while water skiing. After surgery and recovery, he worked hard to raise his medical profile so he could join the Armored Corps.
He fulfilled his dream, graduating as an outstanding tank commander and completing the officer course with honors.
On October 7, Daniel was stationed at Kibbutz Nahal Oz. He and his tank crew courageously helped repel multiple attackers. During the battle, Daniel was wounded and abducted. After 163 days, he was declared fallen, Hy”d, by the IDF.
Daniel was the commander of the other 3 tankists, hostage survivor Matan Angrest, Staff Sergeant Itai Chen, who fell on October 7th and remains captive in Gaza, and Staff Sergeant Tomer Leibovitz, Hy”d, who also fell in combat.
Guy Iluz (Illouz) was a 26-year-old Israeli from Ra'anana, born and raised in the central Israeli town. He was a talented musician and sound technician, known for his work as the soundman for the Israeli band Hayehudim, and had started playing electric guitar at age 9 before studying psychology and philosophy at university.
On October 7, 2023, he was wounded and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists while attempting to flee the Supernova (Nova) music festival, though he was initially taken alive. In captivity, he died from his untreated injuries due to lack of medical care.
Yossi Sharabi was a 53-year-old resident of Kibbutz Be'eri, originally from Tel Aviv, where he grew up before moving to the kibbutz about 32 years ago to follow his brother Eli. Described as a surfer, soccer fan, and someone who "was all heart," he was known for his family devotion and courage amid the broader hostage situation affecting his relatives, including his brother Eli who survived 491 days in captivity. On October 7, 2023, he was kidnapped from his home in Kibbutz Be'eri, where he and his family had taken cover during the attack. He was slain in captivity,
Bipin Joshi was a 23-year-old Nepali agriculture student from Kanchanpur, Nepal, who had come to Israel under the Learn and Earn Program to study and work.
On October 7, 2023, he was abducted alive from a bomb shelter in Kibbutz Alumim, where he heroically tried to save his fellow Nepalese students by throwing back a Hamas grenade before being taken. He was murdered in Hamas captivity during the early months of the war.
The government expressed its deep condolences to the families of Iluz, Joshi, Peretz, Sharabi, and all fallen hostages.
Israel’s government and the entirety of its Security and Rescue Forces remain steadfast, committed, and tirelessly working to ensure that all fallen hostages are returned for proper burial in their homeland.
Hamas is required to fulfill its obligations to the mediators and return the remains as part of the ceasefire agreement. Israel emphasized that it will not compromise on this matter and will spare no effort until every single hostage is returned.
May their memory be blessed.