IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi spoke during the opening ceremony of Memorial Day events for the IDF fallen.
"The vast majority of families in the State of Israel wait for their children to come home at the conclusion of their military service, welcoming them home with open arms - but you waited in vain, and some are still waiting," he said. "They will not return. They will not return.
"Your pain and grief is too much to bear; it is neverending, and only intensifies on special days," Kochavi continued. "A huge part of Israel's security is in their merit."