Against the background of the continuation of the military campaign, and at the beginning of the 12th week since the fighting began, President Isaac Herzog in a speech to Israeli society:
"This is a difficult evening, each time the heart is in grief when hearing the words 'released for publication'. Behind every name of a martyr in the fighting is a hero of Israel, a spouse, a father, a son, a brother, a grandson, a loved one. The fallen and wounded are among the best.
"Our sons and daughters fight with supreme bravery, risking their lives in the alleys, in the shafts, in the territory of the enemy, the threatened, the threatening and the challenging. They fight bravely, with determination, with responsibility to meet the interrelated goals. To defeat a bitter and cruel enemy and to return the abductees and bring them out of the darkness.
"They are fighting so that we do not return to bloodshed again and again. They are fighting so that we, the people of Israel, will have a better future, so that the whole region will have a better future and so that our abducted brothers and sisters will return. The hostages held by Hamas is cruel and inhumane, we will not rest until they return home.
"We are in the middle of a campaign against those who came to kill Jews, rape, torture and massacre Jews, Muslims and people of different ethnicities. This is a necessary, heavy, protracted campaign, that can't be solved with one quick blow."
"Anyone who brings us back to the discourse of October 6 is harming the war effort"
"On this difficult day we must not break down, we have to raise our heads, the enemy is just waiting to see cracks in us, for us to start fighting with each other. He sees the confrontations, the ego struggles and the political clashes, both the day before and the day after. He celebrates every time the controversy divides us.
"And precisely here I would like to bring the plea of bereaved families and the crowds of the people of Israel that I have met and call to everyone, let's stop the confrontations at this difficult time. Criticism is allowed and should be made, but there is a way to argue. We must not return to the discourse of 'us and them', of spreading the poison on the networks. Anyone who brings us back to the discourse of October 6 is harming the war effort and the security of the country's citizens.
"I directly appeal to our leadership and everyone who works in the political and public sphere and I call on them to stop. Hold back a little more with the political campaigns and messages.
"We are at war, there is no choice. The righteousness of the way prevails over everything, we do not break or blink. I support the IDF and its soldiers who risk their lives for the return of the abductees. I support the Chief of Staff and the IDF soldiers. I wish success to the Prime Minister. We must remember that the road to victory is lined with small victories."
