President Cyril Ramaphosa has met the family of slain South African‑born Captain Daniel Perez after government intervention secured the release of his remains from Hamas.

Perez, who was born in South Africa, was taken hostage and killed during the 7 October 2023 attacks in Israel.

Born in Johannesburg, Perez grew up in Glenhazel where his father served as a community rabbi before the family moved to Israel in 2014.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the president expressed his condolences to the Perez family

“President Ramaphosa affirms South Africa’s support for an all-inclusive peace process that will deliver a lasting peace for the people of Israel and Palestine.

“The South African government remains engaged in assisting all South Africans, irrespective of race or religion, that are ensnared in conflict zones as well as assisting other foreign nationals where such support is requested,” Magwenya said.

Magwenya added this includes other areas of conflict.

“This includes facilitating the release of South Africans trapped in a war in Syria, citizens that were sold to Russian mercenaries and the safe return of Ukrainian children.”

Meanwhile, Israel on Sunday rejected a deal announced by US President Donald Trump last month for Gaza.

Netanyahu said Israel’s military “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed” and rejected the 15-point document agreed to by Hamas.

After more than a week of gradually escalating criticism of the plan, and despite receiving assurances that Israel would not need to start withdrawing in Gaza immediately, Netanyahu explicitly opposed the deal following pushback from his right-wing allies.

“Israel rejects the 15-point document,” Netanyahu said, referring to the plan Hamas agreed to in late July.

The Israeli military “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed, and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens”, he told a cabinet meeting, according to AFP.

Netanyahu described Trump, who had hailed the Gaza deal as a milestone for peace, as “our greatest friend in the White House” – but quickly made clear he was willing to challenge him, saying Israel was raising its objections with the United States.