In a special operation by the IDF and the Mossad, we brought home the bones of the armored fighter, the late Major Yehuda Yekutiel Katz, who fell in the battle in Sultan Ya'akov in June 1982 during the First Lebanon War.

About seven years ago we returned to the Israeli grave the late Colonel Zachariah Baumel, in May 2025 we returned the late Colonel Zvika Feldman, and for a moment we did not stop working to return the late Colonel Yehuda Katz who was absent from that battle.

For many years I approved many secret operations to locate the missing Sultan Yaakov. I promised their families that we will never stop working to bring them home.

Today we all, the entire nation of Israel, embrace the Katz family. The dear parents, Sara and Yosef, who died, did not stop working to find him and bring him back, and the heart of Davon has already passed away. We return to you brothers, my father and Farahia - dear Yehuda, to you and to the land of the Land of Israel that he loved so much.

I would like to thank the IDF, the Mossad, the Shin Bet and the coordinator of the Shu'an for many years of efforts and their determined and courageous action for the return of the late Yehuda and the return of all our missing and abducted - both the living and the dead.

The State of Israel and the Government of Israel under my leadership are always committed to this, and we will continue to do so.

As the prophet Jeremiah said: "And there is hope after you is the speech of the Lord, and children return to their borders."