Herzog joins Selichot prayers at Western Wall, meets freed hostages

Israeli President Isaac Herzog joined Selichot prayers at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Saturday night, where he met with survivors of Hamas captivity and prayed for the safety of soldiers and security forces.

Upon his arrival at the site, he met with three female Israel Defense Forces observers who were kidnapped from the Nahal Oz army base on Oct. 7, 2023, and released in January 2025 as part of a ceasefire deal: Karina Ariev, Agam Berger and Naama Levy.

Alongside Rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Sites of Israel Shmuel Rabinowitz, Herzog recited Psalms for the return of the 48 remaining hostages—20 of whom are believed to be alive—and for the recovery of the wounded.

He also prayed for comfort for bereaved families, for the swift return of displaced communities to their homes, and blessed the thousands of worshippers with a happy new year.