JERUSALEM – As Israel marks its 77th year since independence, the nation paused to honor 120 outstanding members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with the President’s Award for 2025. The ceremony, held at the president’s official residence in Jerusalem, comes during an era defined by Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iranian-backed terror networks, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and their regional affiliates. The awardees represent not just military excellence, but the resilience, unity, and moral character that continue to shape Israeli society and its defense forces amid war imposed by Iranian proxies.
The President’s Award is one of Israel’s most distinguished military honors. Each year, soldiers and officers from diverse backgrounds, roles, and units are selected through a rigorous process that considers leadership, bravery, innovation, and exemplary values. In 2025, many honorees were recognized for actions during Operation Iron Swords, Israel’s response to the October 7th massacre—the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust—in which Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 Israeli civilians and abducted at least 250 more. The honorees of this year serve as reminders of the IDF’s extraordinary professionalism, adherence to ethics, and care for both Israeli and non-combatant lives during ongoing conflict.
A Ceremony Reflecting Unity and Diversity
The ceremony gathered families, senior military and government leaders, and representatives of Israeli society’s full spectrum—Jewish, Druze, Bedouin, Muslim, and Christian soldiers. The diversity of the honorees reflects the IDF’s standing as a people’s army, drawing individuals committed to protecting Israel’s population and democratic values. President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir attended, offering public gratitude and praise.
The awards are not only a recognition of battlefield valor. A significant number of honorees are medics, intelligence officers, cyber experts, engineers, and logisticians. Many were cited for selfless actions under fire, for devising new protocols that saved lives, or for upholding the IDF’s ethical code—in stark contrast to the brutal methods of Hamas and other terror groups who have targeted Israeli civilians and used their own as human shields.
Honorees Making a Difference
Among the 2025 recipients are:
– Combat soldiers from the Golani and Paratroopers brigades, who repelled Hamas infiltration attempts on October 7 and led the evacuation of threatened communities;
– Iron Dome and air defense operators who intercepted rocket barrages, demonstrating split-second decision-making that prioritized saving civilian lives;
– Bedouin and Druze trackers and officers, who provided essential intelligence and operational support in both southern and northern theaters;
– Reserve engineers and medical personnel who developed life-saving technologies for both the battlefield and civilian use;
– Female soldiers in key combat and support roles, reflecting the IDF’s ongoing integration of women into its ranks.
The day’s addresses echoed the gravity of the times. President Herzog emphasized that the soldiers’ conduct during the Iron Swords campaign and throughout the war was a beacon of moral clarity, especially in the face of atrocities committed by Iran-backed terror organizations. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Lt. Gen. Zamir both highlighted Israel’s responsibility to defend its population, bring abducted hostages home, and continue upholding a code of military ethics that distinguishes the IDF from the practices of its enemies.
A Year Defined by War and Resolve
This year’s awards are inseparable from the context of the ongoing war with Hamas and the broader Iranian-backed terror network. The October 7th massacre, which saw unprecedented brutality—including the execution, sexual assault, mutilation, and abduction of scores of Israelis—marked a turning point for the nation and its armed forces. In response, Operation Iron Swords saw IDF units act to regain security across the southern and northern borders, protect millions of Israelis from rocket fire, and pursue hostage rescue efforts, all while facing persistent attacks from Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria.
Many recipients of the President’s Award were noted for demonstrating humanity under fire. Numerous testimonies detail medics who provided life-saving care to civilians of all backgrounds, soldiers who risked their lives to evacuate the wounded and confront terror cells in densely populated areas, and reservists who mobilized at a moment’s notice to defend their towns and communities.
The Diversity of Service
The awards underline an often-overlooked dimension of the Israeli military: its pluralism and inclusivity. Among the 120 honorees are Druze and Bedouin servicemen, Christians, and Muslim Arabs, each playing vital roles in the defense of the state. Their presence and excellence highlight both Israel’s democratic values and the broad coalition unified in the face of terror.
Off the battlefield, distinguished soldiers contributed vital work in technology and humanitarian spheres. Cyber defenders prevented major Iranian attacks on Israel’s infrastructure, while logistics officers kept vital supply chains open despite repeated enemy sabotage. Others led community building, synagogue repairs, care for Holocaust survivors, and support for Israel’s most vulnerable citizens, reaffirming the IDF’s role as a force for good in society as well as on the battlefield.
Setting a Standard in a Global Context
The President’s Award comes against a backdrop of escalating antisemitism worldwide and growing demands for moral clarity in reporting on the conflict. Israeli leaders used the occasion to reiterate the country’s commitment to the laws of war and the Geneva Conventions, emphasizing the distinction between Israel’s defensive actions and the war crimes perpetrated by Iranian-backed entities. Israel’s continued efforts to warn civilian populations, provide humanitarian corridors, and deliver aid in Gaza stand in contrast to Hamas’s continued targeting of Israeli civilians and ongoing use of indiscriminate violence.
Global leaders—including those from the United States, Europe, and other allies—sent messages of congratulations, recognizing the IDF’s professionalism and the award recipients’ role as ambassadors of Israel’s values. Jewish communities worldwide celebrated the ceremony as a source of pride and strength during a year of unprecedented hardship.
Conclusion: Excellence and Hope
The 2025 President’s Award honorees personify the best of Israel in a time of profound challenge. Their courage, professionalism, and humanity highlight the foundational distinction between a democratic state defending its population and terror movements dedicated to destruction. As Israel continues to confront existential threats, these soldiers stand as symbols of its enduring spirit, its commitment to justice, and its hope for a secure future.
In honoring these 120 men and women, Israel affirms its core values—resilience, unity, and a deep moral sense rooted in history and experience. Their achievement is not only a personal milestone but a reaffirmation to Israelis and the world that the struggle for survival is inseparable from the pursuit of light, life, and peace.
