IDF officer killed in training accident in southern Israel laid to rest

“I received with pain and sorrow the news of the death of the late Capt. Leader Peretz, a logistics officer in the 7th Brigade,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant wrote.

 Forces gathered at the funeral of a fallen soldier. (photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)
Forces gathered at the funeral of a fallen soldier.
(photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)

IDF Capt. Lidar Peretz, 21, from Or Yehuda, was buried on Friday, surrounded by family and military personnel.

Peretz was killed and another soldier was lightly injured in an accident at the Tze’elim base in the Negev on Thursday.

Peretz was a logistics officer in the 7th Armored Brigade. She was posthumously promoted from lieutenant to captain after the incident.

Military Police have begun an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, in which a heavy container apparently fell on Peretz. The IDF noted that, upon concluding the investigation, the findings will be handed over to the office of the military’s attorney-general for examination.

Furthermore, in a joint decision from Col. Michel Yanko, the head of the Technology and Logistics Division, and Col. Ori Gordin, the commander of the Northern Command, the decision has been made to establish a team of experts headed by senior logistics officer Lt.-Col. Moshe Artzi.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant attends a recognition ceremony for the IDF reserve soldiers, in the Israeli parliament on June 13, 2023.  (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant attends a recognition ceremony for the IDF reserve soldiers, in the Israeli parliament on June 13, 2023. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

In a Twitter statement, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant expressed his condolences.

“I received with pain and sorrow the news of the death of the late Capt. Lidar Peretz, a logistics officer in the 7th Brigade,” Gallant wrote. “My heart goes out to her family in their most difficult time. The IDF will study the circumstances of the accident and draw the necessary lessons from it. May her memory be a blessing.”

Captain Peretz’s funeral

The IDF Spokesperson announced that Captain Peretz’s funeral will be held on Friday at 1 pm at the military cemetery in Kiryat Shaul.

“The IDF shares in the family's grief and will continue to accompany it,” said the spokesperson.

This is not the first instance this year of an IDF soldier being killed due to an accident. In January, Cpl. Dennis Zinobayev was killed when a grenade exploded in his room at the Kfir training base Bekaot.