Herzog lauds soldiers for fighting ‘battles that future generations will study’

President Isaac Herzog pays tribute to outstanding members of the Israel Defense Forces at the annual Independence Day ceremony at the President’s Residence.

“Outstanding soldiers in a normal year study the battles of the past — but you are fighting the battles that future generations will study,” Herzog says in his address to the gathering. “It is simply unbelievable what you have gone through in the past two and a half years. We all grew up on stories of heroism — but this generation surpasses them all.”

The president also notes that “even at these very moments, alongside the outstanding soldiers, there are tens of thousands of our finest sons and daughters on many fronts, defending us all.”

Alongside the soldiers being honored, freed hostages Alon Ohel, Gadi Mozes, Fernando Marman, Margalit Mozes and Gabriella and Mia Leimberg attend the event in Jerusalem.

“A year ago we prayed and hoped, and thank God we have no more hostages anywhere,” Herzog says.