On this deeply emotional day, there are two additional things that can now be said. First, the working assumption among professional officials was that "there would be many Ron Arads", hostages whose fate would never be known.
In Israel, it was believed that at least in some cases Hamas would not know where those hostages were buried. The intelligence in Israel's possession was also insufficient.
And yet, beyond all expectations, everyone is here. To the very last one. The living and the dead. Although everyone longed for this ending, only a few believed it was truly possible. This knowledge alone proves just how moving this moment is.
Second, Israel's insistence on bringing everyone home, including the dead, has earned it a reputation around the world. Trump has at times explained how astonished he was to learn that families wanted a grave to visit. But he is not the only one.
The sanctity accorded to the lives of the hostages on the one hand, and the unwavering commitment to returning the dead on the other, have taught the world a lesson about the values that guide the Jewish people. Indeed, this is a legacy we have every reason to be proud of.
