Israel's 'unbreakable spirit' is 'our true secret weapon,' says Israeli President Herzog

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog spoke to the nation on Wednesday with a speech that sought to bring strength and comfort to the citizens of Israel following the gruesome massacre by Hamas terrorists of 1,400 civilians in southern Israel, the capture of 240 hostages and the constant missile bombardments of Israeli cities.

Herzog stressed during his speech that unity is what will help win the war and bring the hostages home. 

“At this time, our best sons and daughters are fighting hard for our land, in the air and at sea, in Gaza. All the soldiers need is for us to maintain unity, all of us, the entire nation together,” Herzog said.

“I say to you what I told the families, unequivocally, the hostages are in our thoughts, and their return is an integral part of the success of this campaign, of course, alongside victory in this decisive war against the enemy and restoring security to all Israeli citizens.”

The president promised that “the best minds” were working to bring the hostages home. 

“The best minds – thousands of Israelis, from the country’s leadership to every level of the security services – will work with professionalism and dedication, every minute of the day, to fulfill our moral duty as a country; to bring them back home,” he declared.

Herzog added that Hamas was waging a “psychological campaign” against Israel and urged Israelis not to unwittingly take the bait and spread unfounded rumors. He stressed the significance of unity among Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs.

“We must eradicate any incarnation of enmity, racism and violence towards different groups within us”, Herzog said.

“It's important to remember the dozen of Arab civilians who also died during the massacre, during the fighting. The enemy is trying to increase the hate between Jews and Arabs. We must fight this.” 

The Israeli president noted Israel’s eternal “unbreakable spirit,” and said it was “the spirit of a storm which rose from ashes and destruction and is already blowing with all its might.”

“This spirit has revealed itself mightily, in thousands of heroic stories from the frontline and the home front,” Herzog noted. “It blows through each outreached hand, in the exemplary Israeli volunteerism and mutual responsibility, seeking to strengthen, to embrace, to support. It blows in every corner of our remarkable country – every corner. It is an eternal spirit, passed on to us from the generations before us, a spirit which will continue to guide us from generation to generation.”

Herzog said it is that spirit which will ensure the survival of Israel and called it Israel's secret weapon.

“This spirit is you, my sisters and brothers, the people of Israel. Israeli society is our true secret weapon,” Herzog concluded. 

Click here to read the full text of Herzog's address.