In preparation for Israel’s Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror (5785/2025), the Ministry of Defense released today (Friday) the official number of Israel’s fallen: 25,417 individuals have died in service since 1860.
This year, the total includes 316 newly fallen soldiers and an additional 61 disabled veterans who passed away due to injuries sustained during their service, recognized posthumously as fallen soldiers. As a result, the number of bereaved family members in Israel has now reached 58,617, with 5,944 added just since the war known as “Operation Swords of Iron.”
Among them are 8,674 bereaved parents, 5,391 widows, 10,302 orphans, and 34,250 siblings.
Official Memorial Ceremonies
Memorial Day will commence on Tuesday evening, April 29, at 8:00 PM, with a one-minute siren nationwide. The central state ceremony will be held at the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem, attended by the President of Israel and the IDF Chief of Staff.
On Wednesday at 11:00 AM, a two-minute siren will sound across the country, followed by official ceremonies at 58 military cemeteries and memorial sites. At 11:02 AM, a special missing man formation flyover by Israeli fighter jets will pass above Mount Herzl. Due to the expected high turnout, the Ministry of Defense requests the general public to allow priority access to cemeteries for bereaved families, soldiers, and security personnel, and encourages others to visit after the official ceremonies.
Commemoration Projects and Initiatives
The Defense Ministry building in Tel Aviv will be lit up with a special display:
A large candle and the Hebrew word “Yizkor” (“We Remember”) will be projected on the facade.
Through the Yizkor Memorial Website, the public is invited to light a virtual memorial candle and share personal dedications. Visitors can also print a name label with the fallen soldier’s name, rank, and date of death — to place on a candle at home or at a cemetery. The “Paths of Memory” project helps locate graves of fallen soldiers via a simple name search. It now includes 109 military cemeteries across the country.
A hybrid online memorial ceremony will be distributed to Jewish communities worldwide, in collaboration with the Defense Ministry and the World Zionist Organization. The names of all fallen soldiers will be broadcast continuously on TV Channel 26 (on Israeli Cable Channels, YES, HOT, Cellcom TV, Partner, and IDAN Plus) and on the Yizkor website, https://www.izkor.gov.il/en/, from 8:45 PM on Memorial Day eve through the conclusion of the following evening. Names will appear in order of their date of death.
Remembering the Fallen is an Eternal Flame
The Defense Ministry’s Department for Bereaved Families, Commemoration, and Heritage has completed full preparations for Memorial Day, including logistics at cemeteries, signage, transportation, and support centers. Due to the extensive impact of the “Swords of Iron” war, the department has expanded its emotional and logistical support for bereaved families, including therapy groups, financial assistance, and one-on-one guidance for orphans.
Arie Moalem, Deputy Director-General and Head of the Department, said: “The memory of the fallen is a perpetual light. This isn’t just commemoration — it’s loyalty. Loyalty to those we lost and to those left behind to carry their names in their hearts forever.”
“Memorial Day is not just a sad day — it is a sacred one. On this day, heaven and earth meet.”
