Herzog at Western Wall to pray for safe return of hostages

Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel

Israel's President Isaac Herzog prays for the safe release of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on January 19, 2025.(Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)
Israel's President Isaac Herzog prays for the safe release of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on January 19, 2025.(Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

President Isaac Herzog and his wife arrive at the Western Wall to pray for the safe return of the all the hostages.

“With God’s help we will see the hostages [beginning to] return today, until the very last one, according to the deal that was signed,” he says in a video message.

Herzog says he also is sending strength “to the families who are going through very difficult days,” in particular those who are seeing the release of Palestinian prisoners convicted of killing their loved ones as part of the deal.

The president also puts a note in the wall praying for the hostages’ safe return, as well as the safety of IDF soldiers and security officers, the recovery of the wounded and “for the eternal rebuilding of the State of Israel after this great upheaval.”

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