Israel transitions from Memorial Day to Independence Day, with muted celebrations planned

The ceremony to mark the transition from Memorial Day to Independence Day begins at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, with a muted tone, after the October 7 massacre and the ongoing war in Gaza.

The ceremony was filmed in advance without a live audience.

The traditional torch-lighting by notable individuals, which usually takes place at the ceremony on Mount Herzl, is instead being held inside Gaza border communities attacked on October 7, as well as on Israel Defense Forces bases that were targeted in the Hamas attack and suffered heavy losses.

This is being done in order to reflect “the overall public atmosphere of bereavement, loss and deep pain of the people of Israel,” according to an official statement.

In Tel Aviv, said Mayor Ron Huldai, there will be no fireworks and fewer events, most of them focused within neighborhoods, instead of large central gatherings.

Muted celebrations are also expected in numerous other towns.

Jerusalem will not have any fireworks this year, said a municipality spokesperson, although the city’s Cinematheque theater announced it will continue its cinematic tradition of singalongs and an Israeli cinema quiz on Tuesday afternoon, an event co-sponsored by the municipality.