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Israel is holding Memorial Day with memories of the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza making this year's event particularly poignant. Meanwhile, more Palestinians are fleeing Rafah. Follow DW for more.
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The day commemorates fallen soldiers of Israel's wars and Israeli victims of hostile attacksImage: Shannon Stapleton/REUTERSWhat you need to know
- Israel is remembering soldiers and civlians killed in wars, conflicts and attacks since its creation in 1948
- In a Memorial Day speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed troops will keep fighting until victory
- More Palestinians have left the southern city of Rafah ahead of an anticipated full-scale Israeli offensive
- Egypt has said it will formally support South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice
05/13/2024May 13, 2024
Israel holds Memorial Day ahead of independence celebration
Israel is marking its Memorial Day, the annual commemoration in honor of fallen soldiers and civilian victims of attacks.
The period of reflection began on Sunday as sirens sounded across Israel at 8 p.m. local time (1700 GMT/UTC) to mark the start of Memorial Day.
The commemoration opened with an official ceremony on Sunday, with smaller events planned at military cemeteries across the country on Monday.
"Tonight, we have no peace, and there is no silence," Israeli President Isaac Herzog said at a ceremony at Jerusalem's Western Wall, the holiest site for Jews to pray.
In a Memorial Day speech, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue fighting until victory.
The solemnity ends with the fanfare of Independence Day, starting on Monday evening. The juxtaposition of the two days is intended to highlight the link between Israel's costly wars and its founding in 1948, as well as its subsequent survival.
The year, Memorial Day comes with memories of the October 7 attacks by Hamas in southern Israel still strong.
The attacks killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, with Islamist militants taking another 250 hostage. Hamas, listed as a terrorist organization in the United States and European Union, as well as by other governments, still hold about 100 captives and the remains of more than 30 people who have been reported dead.
On Sunday, Gaza's Hamas-controlled Health Ministry said the death toll among Palestinians in Gaza from Israel's bombardment and offensive had risen above 35,000.
Palestinians look upon the creation of Israel as the "Nakba," or catastrophe, marking a time when hundreds of thousands of people were expelled from their homes.
Israel: Thousands remember October 7 terror attacks
rc/rm (Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP)
https://p.dw.com/p/4flv0
