Hundreds of people on Wednesday attended the funeral of Captain Daniel Peretz, whose body was handed over by Hamas this week as part of the fragile ceasefire to end the two-year Gaza war.

Cpt. Peretz was kidnapped from his army base in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 during the attack by Hamas-led militants.

Recently released hostage Matan Angrest, who was a member of Peretz’s team, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke at the funeral.

“I want to say that I can barely stand on my feet, and it is a privilege for me to speak here,” said Angrest while speaking to mourners. “It is the least I can do. I want to tell you that the team that fought with me are true heroes.”

“I didn't prepare for anything in advance, I can't believe I got here at all. It is the least I could do for Daniel,” he said.

Angrest, together with 19 remaining living hostages, was released from captivity in Gaza on Monday.

It’s a key first step of the tenuous Gaza ceasefire agreement by freeing hostages and Palestinian prisoners, raising hopes that the US-brokered deal might lead to a permanent end to the two-year war that ravaged the Palestinian territory.