Israel restricts Palestinian access during Memorial Day celebrations

Israel Commemorates Memorial Day with Sounding of Sirens

On Monday evening, Israel will begin its annual commemoration of Memorial Day, marking the deaths of soldiers and civilians since the establishment of Jewish settlements in Palestine in 1860. The day is observed on the fourth of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar, corresponding to April 20-21 this year.

During the ceremony, traffic stops, silences, wreaths will be laid, places of entertainment will be closed, and television programming will be suspended. The names of Israelis killed since 1860 will be read aloud, including 25,644 soldiers and 5,313 civilians. However, details about Palestinians who have died over the same period will not be included.

In previous years, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has used Memorial Day to emphasize the threat posed by Hamas and other militant groups. This year’s ceremony is expected to follow a similar pattern, with Netanyahu likely to focus on the recent attack that killed 1,139 Israelis.

Critics argue that this narrative of sacrifice and existential threat can be seen as one-sided, excluding Palestinians who have also suffered during Israel’s conflicts. Some young Israelis, including those who refuse to serve in the military, are speaking out against this approach, saying it does not acknowledge the complexities of the conflict.

In recent years, attempts to mark Memorial Day with a more inclusive ceremony have been met with resistance from right-wing groups and government officials. This year’s event has been reduced to an online ceremony due to these efforts.

Palestinians view Memorial Day as a tragedy, highlighting the need for a different vision of the day.

Source: Al Jazeera