Millions of Israelis mark Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and terror victims

Israel came to a standstill on Monday morning (5 April) as millions of Israelis stood in solemn silence as sirens wailed throughout the country for two full minutes to mark Memorial Day and to commemorate the 23,169 fallen soldiers and 2,495 terror victims who have fallen throughout the history of the State of Israel and the Zionist movement.

Traffic stopped and people got out of their vehicles on highways and roads to stand with heads bowed. Bereaved families gathered at cemeteries across the country.

Cafes and places of entertainment shut for the day. Radio and TV stopped their regular shows and instead broadcast war documentaries and stories about soldiers killed in action.

It is one of the most sombre dates on the Israeli calendar. Israel has fought half a dozen wars with Arab countries since its establishment in 1948 and has battled two Palestinian uprisings. After decades of conflict, most Israelis have lost loved ones or know someone who has.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a ceremony for the war dead that it is impossible to heal the pain of losing a loved one. Netanyahu’s brother, an army commando, was killed during the rescue mission to free passengers of a hijacked plane in Uganda in 1976.

“There is no total healing to the loss. There is an emptiness that is never filled,” he said.

The sad atmosphere ended at sundown, however when, in contrast, Israelis took to the streets for Yom Haatzmaut or Independence Day celebrations with dancing, fireworks and parties.

The Israeli-Arab wars