LIVE NOW: Israel's State Memorial Ceremony for Victims of Terror in Israel and Abroad

Memorial Day 5785: At 1:00 PM, the state memorial ceremony for victims of hostile acts in Israel and abroad began at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. The ceremony is held in the presence of the President of Israel, the Prime Minister, the Knesset Speaker, the Supreme Court President, and senior defense officials.

Earlier today (Wednesday), the state memorial ceremony for Israel’s fallen soldiers took place, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke, saying, “Our sons and daughters are risking their lives right now to create the conditions for the return of all our hostages and for victory over our enemies.”

Contrary to tradition, the ceremony’s host, Gilad Adin, read the names of the dignitaries attending, sparing the speakers from mentioning them at the start of their speeches. This was likely to avoid the Prime Minister acknowledging and honoring Supreme Court President Justice Yitzhak Amit.

In his opening remarks this morning, Netanyahu said, “My many distinguished guests,” rather than “All my distinguished guests,” as he did last week at the Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day ceremony.

Since the establishment of the Jewish settlement, 5,229 civilians have been killed in hostile acts (terror attacks).

In the past year, 398 security personnel and civilians were killed in Israel’s campaigns and hostile acts, according to data from the Defense Ministry and National Insurance Institute published on the eve of Memorial Day, observed last night.

Since the outbreak of the Iron Swords War, 850 IDF soldiers have fallen, 410 of them since the ground operation began in late October 2023. Additionally, 5,825 security personnel were wounded during the war, 865 of them severely. On this Memorial Day, 59 hostages remain held in Gaza. Signs of life have recently been received from 20 of them, while 35 have been officially declared dead.

Since the establishment of the Jewish settlement in Israel in 1851, 5,229 civilians have been killed in hostile acts, 4,503 of them since the state’s founding. Of those killed, 615 were men, 319 were women, and 800 were children and teens up to age 18. In the past year, 79 civilians were killed in hostile acts.

Since 1860, 25,420 security personnel have fallen in Israel’s campaigns. From last Memorial Day to today, 319 fallen were added to the count, along with 61 disabled veterans who passed away due to their disabilities and were recognized during the year as fallen soldiers of Israel’s campaigns.

Channel 12 contributed to this article.