Overview
- Israel began Memorial Day Monday night with nationwide sirens and a two‑minute standstill as entertainment venues closed for the 24‑hour observance.
- The Defense Ministry reported 174 soldiers and 79 civilians killed since last year, and official name‑lists now include 25,644 soldiers and 5,313 civilians.
- President Isaac Herzog led the state ceremony at Jerusalem’s Western Wall and urged unity while honoring recent fallen by name.
- The IDF’s all‑Haredi Chashmonaim Brigade held a base ceremony after reports of non‑participation, while deployed troops marked the day with brief services in Lebanon.
- A joint Israeli‑Palestinian memorial drew about 1,000 participants under limits and threats as hardline figures, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, pushed harsher positions.