President Herzog Vows Investigation into Hamas Massacre at Memorial Ceremony

President Isaac Herzog called for a determined, courageous, and impartial investigation into the Hamas massacre of October 7th, stating that "no distance in time will allow us to shirk this duty." Speaking at the state memorial ceremony for the fallen soldiers of the "Swords of Iron" war, Herzog dedicated a significant portion of his speech to the female observers stationed at the Nachal Oz outpost, located less than a kilometer from Gaza. He described them as "the eyes of the IDF and the state" who sensed, observed, reported, and warned of impending danger in the months leading up to the attack, but "no one pieced together a complete picture."

Herzog recounted how the observers identified terrorists approaching the fence at 6:29 AM on the day of the massacre and continued to report even as the danger closed in. The battle for the outpost resulted in the deaths of 53 soldiers, including 15 observers. Seven observers were abducted to Gaza; six were returned after captivity, while Corporal Noa Marciano was murdered by Hamas terrorists in captivity, her body later returned to Israel.

"There are clear conclusions we already know we must internalize," Herzog stated, emphasizing the need to heed warnings and address internal issues. He also cautioned against "dangerous disputes and deep division" during the current election period, urging Israelis to remember that those who disagree today will live together tomorrow. Looking ahead, he spoke of the need for a "day after the war" with secure and stable arrangements for Israel's borders, quoting Ecclesiastes: "A time for war and a time for peace."

Concluding his remarks, Herzog referenced a message written by the observers on a wall: "Everything will be okay. We will yet shine." He stressed that these words should not be repeated as if nothing happened but carried forward as a message of hope. "We will not forget those we lost. We will not relent from the duty to investigate and correct. And we will not give up on the life that can still be built here," he affirmed. "I believe in us. We will yet shine."