The Full Speech of the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir From the “Salute to the Fallen” Ceremony:

The Chief of the General Staff:  “It is our duty in the IDF to serve as a compass, to guide the way, and to act at all times, tirelessly and with a sense of integrity, for the sake of unity, cohesion, and victory.”

“We are fighting to build a secure, free, and prosperous future for the nation. Our moral duty is to bring our hostages home — this is the essence of the Israel Defense Forces put to the test.”

The Full Speech of the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir From the “Salute to the Fallen” Ceremony:

Dear families, esteemed guests,

"Here lie our bodies" wrote the poet Haim Gouri in memory of the thirty-five fighters of The 35th Convoy who fell in the Independence War.

In this hall, surrounded by the names of the fallen etched around us, we stand today, all together, remembering together. This place carries one hundred and fifty years of sacrifice, with thousands of names, faces, and lives memorialized here. Over eight decades before the establishment of the State and over eight decades after its establishment – this remains a silent yet enduring reminder that the state was not simply handed to us; that the struggle for our right to exist here did not begin yesterday and will not end soon.

“Here lie our bodies, a long, long row…”

The walls of this hall are illuminated by the candles of soldiers and commanders, men and women, from all across the country; serving mandatory and standing service alongside with the reserves, members of the intelligence community alongside security forces personnel; from the pioneer soldiers who fell on the rocky soil of our young nation to the many fallen soldiers of the most recent war. And just as they fought side by side – so are they memorialized forever. The existence, independence, and security of the State of Israel have never been taken for granted, but on October 7th, Simchat Torah 2023, we all felt this more than ever. We were thrust into a war, which began with a barbaric massacre, carried out by a despicable and ruthless enemy. An enemy who does not distinguish between women and men, between adults and children, between soldiers and civilians.

In the face of evil, our people rose – men and women, troops, rescue personnel, and security personnel, from all backgrounds, religions, and corners of the country – and fought back fiercely. 

"Here lie our bodies – a long row, and we cannot breathe, yet the wind is fierce in the mountains and it breathes." Gouri countinues.

Dear bereaved families,
This wind still breathes and blows. It is the legacy left to us by your beloved ones. A spirit of bravery, of love for our nation, of dedication, and of responsibility until the end. The soldiers of the IDF and their commanders are committed to standing by your side and supporting you in the journey of mourning and grief that you are going through. We are determined to continue the path of your loved ones, guided by the values of camaraderie, responsibility, dedication, and bravery. The Land of Israel preserves the memory of its fallen throughout its length and breadth; the areas where they grew up, the paths they walked, and the places they defended with their final breath. As we look today at every tombstone and grave, we remember that alongside the pain of their loss, there is also pride in the independence of our nation.

Soldiers of the IDF and their commanders,
At the grave of Reserve SFC Ben Zussman, who fell in battle in the northern Gaza Strip in December 2023, his mother, Sarit, said in the eulogy from the depths of her heart: "world, do you hear? Do the despicable enemies, thirsty for death, hear? The People of Israel live! Forever and ever, for all eternity. Standing up straight with our heads raised... Be strong, believe, insist on the good – we will win!" Sarit, bereaved families, we will win, for Ben, for the fallen, and for Israel's security. In this moment, it is important to remember: we do not fight only to survive. We fight in order to live. To build a safe, free, and prosperous future for our beloved nation. Deriving from this, it is also our moral duty to bring our hostage home – this is our mission, this is the essence of the Israel Defense Forces put to the test.

These times, between remembrance and revival, are days of soul-searching. In the midst of a complex and challenging period, when emotions run high, it is our duty in the IDF to serve as a compass. To show the way and act continuously, tirelessly, and with a sense of integrity, for unity, cohesion, and victory. The Israel Defense Forces will continue to be the army of the people, and in this lies our strength. In times of storm, the IDF will be a stable anchor, a secure base, and a source of trust for all of us.

The poet Haim Gouri concluded his poem with sad and beautiful farewell words: "At the end, we shall return and meet again as red flowers when the echo of my last cry falls silent in the mountains.” May the memory of the fallen be blessed.