President Isaac Herzog spoke at the Outstanding Soldiers Ceremony at the President's Residence, which was pre-recorded, and addressed the prolonged war: "It's hard to recall another period when outstanding soldiers are troops who spent most of their service in war. It's crazy what you've been through in the past two and a half years." He emphasized that "even at this moment, thousands of our finest sons and daughters are on multiple fronts," and thanked Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, IDF commanders and all forces: "The achievements the IDF has accomplished this year are beyond all imagination." In conclusion, he thanked the bereaved families "who remind us of the heavy price that accompanies our lives on our Independence Day."