Soldiers place flowers and flags on graves of fallen Israeli soldiers in Kiryat Shmona Military Cemetery, on April 24, 2023, ahead of Israeli Memorial Day. (Ayal Margolin/ Flash90)
Israelis bow their heads at 8 p.m. for a minute of silence as sirens sound throughout the country in remembrance of the country’s 28,468 fallen soldiers and terror victims.
President Isaac Herzog marks the beginning of Israel’s Memorial Day, at a ceremony at the Western Wall on April 24, 2023 (Channel 11 screenshot)
Fifty-nine soldiers were killed during their military service since Israel’s last Memorial Day, according to figures released by the Defense Ministry on Friday. Another 86 disabled veterans died due to complications from injuries sustained during their service.
The numbers brought the total to 24,213 of those who have died during service to the country since 1860.
In addition, 4,255 terror victims have been killed.
The nationwide ceremonies for Israel’s Memorial Day, which begins at sundown, started in the afternoon with a commemoration event at the Yad Labanim memorial for fallen soldiers in Jerusalem.
The siren also marks the start of the main national ceremony, which takes place at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
A second two-minute siren will sound tomorrow at 11 a.m., launching the daytime commemoration ceremonies for fallen soldiers centered on Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl. A ceremony commemorating terror victims will be held at 1 p.m.
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From the Liveblog of
Monday, April 24, 2023
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