The funeral of Warrant Officer Ehud Goldwasser has begun in the Military Section of the Nahariya Cemetery. Thousands of mourners from across the country have arrived to escort the fallen soldier to his resting place.

Goldwasser’s flag-draped coffin will be borne by his fellow soldiers from his reserve infantry battalion. Maj. Giora Be’eri, his company commander, stated that “it was obvious to all of us that we would bring him home.”

The funeral is being attended by, amongst others, Noam Shalit, the father of captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.Ofer Dekel, the chief negotiator of the exchange deal, is reportedly going to read the Mourner's Kaddish during the funeral ceremony.