(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)

President Isaac Herzog today (Friday, 17 october 2025), delivered a eulogy at the funeral of Inbar Haiman, who was taken hostage and murdered by Hamas. Her body was returned as part of the recent agreement.

In his eulogy, President Herzog said: “All of us here, so many of us, are here to accompany your noble, endlessly loving family along this most painful of paths, to finally grant you a place, a resting place, in the landscape of your homeland.

How can it be that a child of light, of love, of good, meets such a cruel death, dragged into the darkness of hell by the monsters of Hamas? In what kind of world must parents yearn, for two terrible years, for the right to bring their beloved daughter to burial?

And how did it come to this? That such a thing could be done to us, here, in the Land of Israel, in our own home?

Of course, we must remember well that the mission is not yet complete, and that we must not rest nor be still until the very last of our fallen hostages is brought to be laid to rest in dignity in our nascent soil!

Inbar came to the Nova Festival to support and accompany the participants, and to offer help to anyone in need, an act of care and nobility. And when the accursed murderers came, Inbar fought them like a lioness, with rare and immense courage and bravery. The unique and radiant blend of qualities within her soul was revealed in all its glory.

At this moment, as President of the State of Israel, I wish to ask you — and you, Inbar — and all our fallen hostages and their families, for forgiveness. Forgiveness that we were not there for you. Forgiveness that we could not save you. Forgiveness that it took us so very long to bring you back to us.”

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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