Yehuda Wachsman
Yehuda WachsmanKobi Gideon / Flash90

Yehuda Wachsman, the father of soldier Nachshon Wachsman, the soldier who was murdered by terrorists in 1994 after a failed rescue attempt, has passed away after a continued struggle with serious illness.

He leaves behind his wife Esther, 6 children and many grandchildren. The time of his funeral has not yet been set.

PM Netanyahu responded to the news, saying "I heard with sorrow of the passing of Yehuda Wachsman, the father of soldier Nachshon Wachsman of blessed memory who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in 1994."

"After the terrible murder, Yehuda chose life - he educated and taught values, Torah and love of the People and Land.

"In my name, that of my wife Sara, and in the name of all Israeli citizens, I send condolences to Esther and his family. May his memory be blessed."

In an interview with Israel Hayom last year, Wachsman said that he missed the unity the Jewish people showed as they had prayed for his son's safe return.

"While Nachshon was abducted, a lot of people of all ethnicities came to the Western Wall – religious and secular – to pray he would be saved. There was great unity among the people. That's what I would like our leaders to learn from – that we have to come together to form a government soon, and remember the time of Nachshon's abduction."

"We're always in a war, and we don't have the luxury of such big [internal] divisions. Everyone needs to compromise so we can unite and strengthen the people who make decisions. We are surrounded by very strong enemies. They have missiles pointed at us, and Iran wants to wipe us off the map. At a time like this, we should split? Nachshon symbolized innocence."