Memorial Day Ceremony at Western Wall Led by Israeli President

With Israel still grieving the losses of war and the trauma of terrorism, President Isaac Herzog opened the nation’s Memorial Day commemorations on Tuesday evening with a moving state ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

In the presence of Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and bereaved families, Herzog honored the memory of Israel’s fallen soldiers and civilian victims of terror, while issuing a resolute call for unity and the return of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

“This year, more than ever, the siren’s sound is also a true alarm,” Herzog said in a powerful address. “It rises like a terrible cry … for the kidnapped, the wounded, the murdered. We will not rest and we will not be still until all of you come home. Every single one.”

In a nation still absorbing the consequences of October 7 and the ongoing war against Hamas and Iran-backed proxies, the President’s plea struck a deep emotional chord. With over 300 soldiers lost since last Memorial Day, Herzog reflected a country at once mourning, mobilizing, and demanding justice.

His warning against internal strife was equally forceful. “Enough division! Enough polarization! Enough hatred!” he declared, imploring citizens to put national unity above all else. “We must not, by our own hands, bring about the destruction of our national home.”

The ceremony was followed by “Songs in Their Memory,” a solemn musical tribute at the Knesset, where Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog joined in remembering the sacrifices of Israel’s sons and daughters.

According to Defense Ministry figures, 319 IDF soldiers have fallen in the past year most in combat across Gaza, Lebanon, and Judea and Samaria. Another 61 disabled veterans succumbed to service-related injuries. The total number of security personnel who have died in defense of Israel now stands at 25,420.

Meanwhile, the National Insurance Institute added 79 names to the list of Israeli terror victims over the past year, bringing the total to 5,229 since 1851.

On a day when the nation pauses to mourn its defenders and victims, Herzog’s address reminded Israelis and the world that the story of the Jewish state is written in both tragedy and triumph, and that the bonds of peoplehood must hold firm against all threats, internal and external.

Israel honors its fallen with remembrance, and its living with a renewed call to unity and hope. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed and inspired.