Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony Held for 20th Year Amid Tensions and Hope

The joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day ceremony was held for the 20th time on Tuesday evening, amidst heightened tensions and tight security restrictions. For the first time since the October 7 massacre and the ensuing war in Gaza, the ceremony took place in a limited format, held with small audiences in Jaffa and Beit Jala. It was broadcast to over 160 locations around the world.

Due to ongoing public safety concerns and an official policy barring Palestinians from entering Israel to participate, many bereaved Palestinian speakers joined remotely or had their messages read aloud by others.

Testimonies of Loss and Resilience

Speakers included family members of victims from both sides of the conflict, many of whom shared stories of devastating loss and unwavering hope.

One of the most moving addresses was delivered on behalf of P., a young Palestinian woman from Gaza City whose mother was killed by sniper fire while fleeing central Gaza. P. recounted surviving a bombing in 2014 during Operation Protective Edge, when she was buried under rubble for eight days before being rescued by the Red Cross. In 2019, she left Gaza and has since been unable to reunite with her family. She described how her family is now scattered among tents and destroyed homes, with many injured—including her 13-year-old niece, who underwent a leg amputation without anesthesia.

Despite her grief, P. sent a powerful message: “With all this pain and unbearable loss, I am here with you today to tell you: Our lives are not just sad stories—they are also stories of steadfastness that does not break, and of hope that arose from the rubble.”

Israeli Voices of Pain and Compassion

Liat Atzili, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz and a former hostage in Gaza, spoke about her partner Aviv, who was killed in the October 7 Hamas attack while defending his community as part of its emergency squad.

“He loved the wild nature of the western Negev, and followed the wildlife with curiosity… His greatest love was for people. He was the best person I knew,” Atzili said.

She also reflected on her time in captivity: 

“I didn’t know what happened to Aviv or to our children, but I realized that even in a situation where I have no control, I still have a choice about what kind of person I will be.”

Palestinian Grief Echoes from Gaza

Musa al-Khatawy, a Palestinian who lost 28 family members during the current war in Gaza, joined the ceremony with a pre-recorded message.

“If the planes didn’t kill them, then hunger and fear did,” he said.

He recounted the story of his uncle Hani, a doctor at the European Hospital in Gaza, who was killed while trying to rescue his daughter Mira after their home was bombed. A second airstrike claimed his life and those of neighbors who came to help.

Protests and Violence in Ra’anana

Despite the solemn tone of the event, the ceremony faced opposition. Dozens of right-wing activists protested outside a screening held at a Reform synagogue in Ra’anana. According to eyewitnesses, some protesters broke into the premises, threw stones, and launched fireworks at attendees. They shouted inflammatory slogans such as “May your village burn” and “Come on, Gaza.”

Calls for Unity from National Leaders

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir urged unity and resilience at the official state Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall Plaza. 

“This is an operational necessity and a national need for equality and unity of fate,” he stated.

He also addressed the families of hostages still held in Gaza:“Our moral, national, and first-rate duty is to return the kidnapped men and women home. We will continue to act in every way until we complete this sacred mission.”

President Isaac Herzog, who lit the memorial torch following the traditional siren, made an emotional plea to the public:

“Let us not tear ourselves apart from within and not destroy the house. Lower the flames, heal the hearts, and preserve us as one people.”