Jerusalem, Israel (April 20, 2026)

A nationwide siren sounded across Israel on Monday evening, opening the country’s annual Memorial Day observances in honor of soldiers killed in service and civilians lost in attacks. The one-minute pause at 8 p.m. marked the start of a solemn period of remembrance held across the country each year ahead of Independence Day.

The central opening ceremony took place at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where senior state and military officials gathered for the official launch of the commemoration. Among those attending were President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, underscoring the national significance of the day.

Memorial events are set to continue Tuesday with a series of ceremonies at Mount Herzl, Israel’s national military cemetery. At 8:30 a.m., the names of fallen service members will be read at the Hall of Remembrance. Later in the morning, a two-minute siren will sound nationwide at 11 a.m., followed by the main state memorial ceremony at the site, where families, officials and members of the public are expected to gather.

Updated figures released for this year’s observance show that 147 names were added to the list of Israel’s fallen since the previous Memorial Day. Another 47 disabled veterans who died and were later recognized as fallen service members were also included. The total number of those commemorated since 1860 now stands at 25,648.

The latest count includes soldiers killed in recent incidents, among them two who died over the weekend in southern Lebanon, as well as two others whose deaths occurred in non-combat circumstances. Their inclusion reflects the broad scope of national remembrance observed on this day, which honors military personnel across generations and conflicts.

As ceremonies continue into Tuesday, Israel enters one of its most emotional national observances, with communities pausing to remember those whose deaths remain deeply woven into the country’s public life and collective memory.

May there be no more lives lost to terror in Klal Yisroel.

America joins the people of @Israel in observing Yom HaZikaron — Israel’s Memorial Day — and in honoring the fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism who have given their lives in defense of the Jewish State. May their memories forever be a blessing. pic.twitter.com/sZFkA5oeQj

— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@USAmbIsrael) April 20, 2026