Israel’s Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror began last night (Tuesday) with the candle-lighting ceremony held at the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem.
“The sound of the memorial siren is the sound of a true alarm, commanding us to unite and come together”
President Isaac Herzog opened his remarks with a call for national unity:
“Each year, the sound of this siren shakes and stirs the heart. It is our voice—everyone’s voice. From all segments of our people. A voice that reminds us where we came from and where we are headed. This year, perhaps more than ever, the sound of the memorial siren is the sound of a true alarm, commanding us to unite and come together.”
“I stand here today and cry out against those who incite, divide, and polarize: Enough! Enough with division! Enough with polarization! Enough with hatred! We must not, by our own hands, bring about the downfall of our national home,” Herzog continued.
The President also addressed the 59 hostages still held in captivity:
“I swear—we will not rest, we will not be silent! We will do everything in our power, take step after step, until every one of you comes home. Every last one of you!”
“We remember and honor our sons and daughters who fought with courage and determination”
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir spoke about the ongoing war in Gaza:
“Our enemies misjudged our response. Hamas too made a mistake in underestimating our resolve to return the hostages and to defeat them. These two missions are intertwined. We will continue and intensify our operations until both are completed.”
“Our highest moral and national duty is to bring the hostages home. We will not rest or be silent. We will continue to act by every means until we complete this sacred mission,” he added.
Zamir also called on the people of Israel to rally behind the war effort:
“We must remember—we are in a multi-front war for the very existence of the State of Israel.”
“On this day, as we remember and honor our sons and daughters who have fought with courage and determination over 77 years of Israel’s existence—we must listen to the voice that called to them and follow in their path, the path of courage, responsibility, and devotion in defending the state,” the Chief of Staff said.
“We need everyone. It is an operational necessity and, at the same time, a national need for equality and unity of destiny. I call on all to shoulder the burden in our shared historic journey as a people—toward independence, freedom, and security,” he concluded.
Memorial Day Events for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror
(All times in Israel Standard Time (IST) and U.S. Eastern Time (ET))
- 8:30 IDT / 1:30 AM ET – Recitation of the names of the fallen at the Hall of Remembrance
- 11:00 IDT / 4:00 AM ET – Following a two-minute siren, the official state memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers, in the presence of the President, Prime Minister, and senior judicial officials
- 13:00 IDT / 6:00 AM ET – Memorial ceremony for victims of terror, attended by state leaders
- 19:45 IDT / 12:45 PM ET – Torch-lighting ceremony at Mount Herzl, concluding Memorial Day and opening the 77th Independence Day celebrations
