Stav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel
IDF soldiers place Israeli flags on graves of soldiers during the flag laying ceremony in Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem, on April 19, 2026, ahead of Memorial Day. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
A ceremony at Mount Herzl, Israel’s national military cemetery, marks the start of commemoration events ahead of Memorial Day, which begins tomorrow evening, the IDF says.
As part of an annual tradition, Israeli flags are placed on the graves of fallen soldiers and victims of terror, alongside flowers and memorial candles, in a practice observed for more than two decades.
The ceremony is attended by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Eyal Zamir, Shin Bet chief David Zini, Mossad Director David Barnea and Israel Police chief Danny Levy, along with other security officials.
“Every flag placed on their graves is a sign of a nation’s love – a nation that longed for the safe return of its soldiers and has carried the pain of loss ever since they did not return,” Zamir says.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir speaks at a ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem marking the start of commemoration events ahead of Memorial Day, April 19, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)
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From the Liveblog of
Sunday, April 19, 2026
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