Palestinians not welcome as Israel marks Memorial Day
Summary
Israel observes Memorial Day each year to remember its soldiers and civilians who have died since the earliest Jewish settlements in 1860. The day focuses on Israeli losses, while Palestinian deaths during conflicts with Israel are not included in official commemorations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlights Israeli sacrifices and the fight against attacks from groups like Hamas, but critics say this narrative overlooks Palestinian suffering.Key Facts
- Memorial Day in Israel is observed annually on the 4th of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar, which fell on April 20-21 in 2024.
- The day remembers soldiers and civilians who died since the first Jewish settlements in Palestine started in 1860.
- This year, the memorial includes 25,644 soldiers and 5,313 civilians who died on the Israeli side.
- Palestinian deaths, numbering in the hundreds of thousands since Israel's founding in 1948, are not recognized in the official observance.
- In 2023, Israel was attacked by Hamas, killing 1,139 Israelis; Israel responded with military actions in Gaza, resulting in over 72,000 Palestinian deaths.
- Israeli leaders frame Memorial Day as honoring sacrifice in a fight for survival, focusing on Israeli victims and hostages.
- Some Israeli young people opposing the wars want to acknowledge Palestinian deaths alongside Israeli ones but face social opposition.
- Right-wing groups and official policies resist commemorations that include Palestinian casualties.
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