Amit, the sister of fallen hostage Almog Sarusi, 27, who was executed by Hamas in captivity expressed emotion:

“The happiness you saw today—I imagined it every second for 11 months. I imagined the hug at the hospital, the screams of joy, the tears of happiness. I waited to show Almog how hard we fought for him, to hear from him what he went through there.

“I wanted to tell him that he’s a hero and that I’m proud of him, to begin the recovery process together. That vision never became my reality, and on a day like this, the sense of loss only grows stronger.

“So it’s important for me to say that, of course, we should be happy, but it’s also important to pause and remember. To remember those who will never return, those who did not come back alive from captivity.”

“Never forget Almog and all those who did not return from captivity.

“May Almog’s memory be a blessing.”