Remembrance Day, Yom HaZikaron, is a day of collective and personal anguish mingled with honor for the fallen
Memorial Day, which begins this year on Sunday evening, 12 May 2024, is a day of collective and personal anguish mingled with honor for the fallen. The official events begin at 8:00 PM with a moment of national silence heralded by a one-minute siren.
According to details published by the Ministry of Defense, a total of 25,034 men, women and children have been killed in terrorist attacks and in defense of the Land of Israel since 1860, the year that the first Jewish settlers left the secure walls of Jerusalem to build new Jewish neighborhoods. Since Memorial Day 2023, 760 new names have been added to the roster of those who died defending the country. Another 61 disabled veterans died due to complications from injuries sustained during their service. In addition, 834 civilians were killed in terrorist attacks over the past year. In the October 7 massacre and the ensuing Swords of Iron War, 711 members of the security forces and 822 Israeli and foreign civilians were killed.
The number of civilian terror victims who perished in attacks since 1851 totals 5,100.
As happens every year, a siren will go off on the eve of Memorial Day at 8 p.m., and another one on Memorial Day itself at 11 a.m., during which the country will stand still for a moment of silence and remembrance for the fallen soldiers of the IDF.
Memorial Day will end on Monday evening (13 May 2024), ushering in Israel’s 76th Independence Day.