Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the nation on Sunday and spoke about the heroism of the IDF soldiers and the need for unity in the face of the enemy and sent a message to Israeli politicians.

“This is a difficult evening. Each time we hear the words “cleared for publication”, our hearts shudder with renewed pain and grief. Behind every name of a soldier who fell in battle, there is an Israeli hero – a family member, a son to parents, a spouse, a father, a grandchild, a loved one,” Herzog opened.

He stated: “Our sons and daughters are fighting with supreme heroism. They are sacrificing themselves in alleyways, shafts, tunnels, and burrows in the dirt in the complex, threatening and challenging enemy territory. They are bringing results and accomplishments. They fight with heroism, responsibility, with determination, morally, to achieve two interrelated goals: to eradicate a bitter and cruel enemy, and bring home the hostages, and rescue them from the abyss. They protect our collective home in a war we did not choose, against a brutal terrorists so that we will not see a return of these bloody rounds, again and again and again. They fight so that we – the Jewish nation – will have a better future, so that the entire region, and even humanity as a whole will have a better future. And so that our brothers and sisters held hostage will be swiftly returned home.”

Regarding the hostages, Herzog stated: “The situation faced by our sisters and brothers, the hostages held captive by Hamas murderers – is unprecedented, cruel, and inhumane.

The obligation to return them in any way possible is an indelible commandment burned deep in our consciousness. We will not rest until they come home.”

The president called on Israeli citizens to show a united front: “Do not forget, we are in the middle of a campaign against those who rose up to murder Jews, to rape, torture and kidnap Jews – and alongside the many Israelis also foreign citizens, and those of other beliefs and religions. It is a difficult, onerous, prolonged, and painful campaign. There is no ‘blink and we’re done.’ But especially at this stage of the campaign, as painful and difficult stage as it may be, we must not break. We must raise our heads. The enemy is just waiting to see the cracks within us for us to start fighting one another. They also see the conflicts, the arguments, the struggles between egos, and the political conflicts – both in the days before and in the days after. They celebrate when they see the cracks between us. And precisely because of this, I would like to convey the fitting request of the hundreds of grieving and bereaved families, and with them, the voices of our soldiers on the frontlines and the multitudes of Israelis back standing behind them that I have met in the last months – and call on everyone, especially the elected officials: End the internal struggles and division. Yes, arguments and debates are part of our DNA. It is perfectly allowed – even necessary – to dispute and criticize, even in wartime, but there is a way to argue. We must not return to the discourse of October 6. We must not return to the poison online. We must not return to the discourse of “us and them”. In particular, I want to caution that anyone who seeks to bring us back to the discourse of October 6 is harming the war effort and the security of the citizens of the country.”

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