IDF apologizes for inviting family of captive soldier to brigade’s memorial ceremony

The Israeli military apologized on Saturday for mistakenly inviting the family of a soldier being held hostage in Gaza to a ceremony for the loved ones of fallen soldiers.

The family of Nimrod Cohen, 20, who is believed to be held in Gaza after being abducted near the Nahal Oz IDF military post on October 7, 2023, said they had received an invitation to attend a ceremony for fallen soldiers who served in the 7th Armored Brigade taking place on Hanukkah.

Yehuda Cohen, Nimrod’s father, told media outlets that on Friday he received a link to sign up for a Hanukkah ceremony that asked them to identify “their connection to the fallen soldier.”

“They’ve already proclaimed us to be a bereaved family,” Cohen told the Kan public broadcaster on Saturday. “We still haven’t received from them a full report about all the criminal conduct of the unit in regards to the tank, but we did get from them the honored distinction of being called a bereaved family. The public should know how the system that abandoned my son treats us.”

Nimrod, who was 19 when he was captured by Hamas, was in a tank along the border with Cpt. Omer Neutra, Sgt. Shaked Dahan and Sgt. Oz Daniel. Neutra was the tank commander, Dahan the driver, Cohen the gunner and Daniel the loader.

During the assault on southern Israel, their tank was attacked by Hamas terrorists with RPG fire and explosive devices. All four were then abducted to Gaza. Infamous footage from the attack showed Palestinians in civilian clothing standing on and around their tank while it was wreathed in smoke and flames, and the soldiers being dragged out by Hamas terrorists.

Initially, all four were considered to be held captive, but in November 2023, the IDF determined that Dahan had been killed in the attack and his body abducted; in February 2024, the IDF said Daniel had also been killed in the initial attack; and earlier this month, more than a year after the onslaught, the IDF announced that intelligence had determined Neutra had also been killed on October 7.

Nimrod’s family has said that they have received indications that he is still alive and being held hostage, although he has not been featured in any of the coerced propaganda videos released by Hamas or Islamic Jihad. “We have received indications that Nimrod is alive. I am sure my son is alive, and I am fighting,” Yehuda told Hebrew media outlets earlier this month.

The IDF on Saturday said the invitation to the Cohen family sent out a day earlier was an honest mistake and that it was deeply sorry.

“The invitation sent to the family of the kidnapped solider Nimrod Cohen to an event for bereaved families was an error made in good faith,” the military said in response to inquiries. “The IDF is sorry for the occurrence and will learn from the mistake accordingly.”

The military said that the brigade’s commander had spoken with Nimrod’s parents directly “and apologized for the insensitivity and the mistake.”

Hamas-led terrorists kidnapped 251 people during their murderous onslaught through southern Israel on October 7, 2023, including soldiers from IDF bases along the border, partygoers from a music festival and families snatched from their homes. Ninety-six of the hostages remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead by the IDF.

Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.