Sirens ring out across Israel, marking beginning of Memorial Day; 25,648 have died during service to the country

A minute-long siren begins to ring out across Israel as the clock strikes 8 p.m., bringing the country to a standstill to mark the start of Memorial Day.

The siren will be followed by the lighting of a memorial flame for the fallen at the Western Wall, at the start of the official state commemoration ceremony.

Memorial services for Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism will be held across the country throughout the evening.

Tomorrow morning, a two-minute siren will sound at 11 a.m. to mark the start of ceremonies at cemeteries nationwide.

Tomorrow night, another official ceremony will take place at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., marking the end of Memorial Day and the beginning of Independence Day.

A total of 174 members of Israel’s security forces have been killed during their service since last Memorial Day, according to fresh figures released by the Defense Ministry.

That includes two soldiers who were killed over the weekend by Hezbollah explosive devices in southern Lebanon.

Another 54 veterans died due to complications from injuries sustained during their service over the past year.

The annual figures include all soldiers, police, and members of other security services who died in the past year, whether in the line of duty, or as a result of an accident, illness, or suicide.

The numbers bring the total to 25,648 of those who have died during service to the country since 1860, the year from which Israel, and, before it, the Jewish community in the region began counting its fallen soldiers and defenders.