Just a few months before his scheduled release, a terrorist who killed an Israeli soldier nearly forty years ago died from cancer on Sunday.

In 1984, Moshe Tamam, a 19-year-old Israeli soldier, was abducted by a cell of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) while hitchhiking to his home in northern Israel. After kidnapping Tamam, his captors attempted to use him as a bargaining chip for the release of Arab prisoners held by Israel. However, negotiations failed or were never seriously pursued, as Tamam was murdered a short time after his abduction. His body was found mutilated and showed signs of torture.

The Israeli authorities launched a thorough investigation, leading to the arrest of several terrorists involved in the kidnapping and murder, including Walid Daka. In 1986, Daka was convicted for his part in the crime and sentenced to life in prison, which was later commuted to 37 years by then-President Shimon Peres.

Over the years, Daka petitioned for early release due to his illness, but Tamam’s family remained active in opposing the appeal, arguing that his release would not only undermine justice but also potentially endanger lives by encouraging further terrorist acts.

“My uncle’s murderer chose to end Tamam’s his life after inflicting severe torture, and after the murder, he continued to torment my family, engage in terrorism, and torment the entire nation of Israel. We fought hard to prevent his early release, and the fruits of our struggle have ripened,” Ortal Tamam told Walla News.