Memorial Day, which begins this year on Monday evening, 24 April, 2023, 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.

A total of 24,213 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 last Memorial Day, 59 new names have been added to the roster of those who died defending the country. Another 86 disabled veterans died due to complications from injuries sustained during their service.

The number of civilian terror victims who perished in attacks totals 4,255.  

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 Tuesday evening (25 April 2023), ushering in Israel’s 75th Independence Day.

Source: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs