Overshadowed by War and Hostages, Israel Honours Fallen Soldiers

Israel observed its first Memorial Day during wartime on Monday, honouring fallen soldiers while grappling with the uncertainty of 132 hostages. Sirens wailed, and the nation stood still for moments of silence on Sunday night and Monday morning, as grieving families paid respects at cemeteries. President Isaac Herzog, speaking at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl military cemetery, emphasized the need to bring back all hostages, urging national healing. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the crowd at Mt. Herzl, pledged to prevail against Hamas, despite facing interruptions during his speech.

Ministers faced heckling at ceremonies across Tel Aviv, Netanya, Rehovot, Holon, and Ashdod, with demands for action on hostage retrieval. At the Western Wall ceremony, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi accepted responsibility for past failures, acknowledging the burden of leadership and the solemn duty to honour fallen soldiers. According to the Defense Ministry, 766 soldiers lost their lives since the previous Memorial Day, primarily during the recent conflict. Additionally, 61 disabled veterans succumbed to injuries sustained in duty.

Memorial Day also commemorated civilian victims of terror attacks, with 834 fatalities recorded, notably from incidents on October 7. The assault on Israeli communities near the Gaza border by Hamas on October 7 resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 240 individuals, with about 30 hostages presumed deceased.