British News Agency

Israeli President Isaac Herzog attended the graduation ceremony of the 1st Infantry Division officers’ school (Bahad 1).

Expressing his deep sorrow over the losses, Herzog said, “Last September, during an operation in Rafah, we lost the best four sons of the 1st Infantry Division officers’ school: Company Commander Major Omri Hai Ben Moshe, Captain Eran Shalem, Lieutenant Ron Arieli and Lieutenant Eitan Avner Ben Yitzhak. Yesterday, the parade ground was not full at the graduation ceremony; however, the legacy and values of the four live on in the hearts and paths of their friends who completed the course.”

Before the ceremony, Herzog met with officer cadet Amit Ben Shoshan, who was injured in the same attack and entered a long rehabilitation process, saying, “In the same painful incident, another cadet was injured: Amit Ben Shoshan. He is now in advanced stages of his rehabilitation. I had the privilege of meeting him, his family, his battalion commander and his platoon commander before the ceremony.”

Herzog concluded, “The spirit of heroism beating within Amit during his intensive rehabilitation deeply moved me, as have many wounded IDF members I have met. He is an example and role model for us all.”