While Israel mourns every fallen man, woman, and child by name, many in the Arab world raise children for death, not life.
In Israel, every individual matters. Each loss is counted, remembered, and honored. This is a sharp contrast to most Middle Eastern societies, with the notable exceptions of Lebanon’s Christian community and military circles, where individual lives also carry deep significance.
Tomorrow, Israel will commemorate its fallen heroes—both soldiers of the IDF and civilian victims of terrorism.
According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, from the founding of the State in 1948 through April 2025, 24,981 IDF soldiers have fallen. An additional 317 were killed in 2024 alone, the majority during Operation Iron Sword, launched after the brutal Hamas attack on October 7, 2023—a conflict that continues today.