It’s not just the past they’re reminiscing about today. Next to the rows of new graves at Israel’s Mount Herzl Military Cemetery, new plots are still being marked — too new for the memorial stones, their empty shapes heaped with flowers.
Next to them, empty space stretched, looming over the future toll of Israel’s ongoing war.
As early morning sirens blared to mark Memorial Day, a crowd gathered around them – some in uniform, some in tears – saluting or bowing their heads. For years, the costs of Israel’s previous conflicts were displayed under the pine trees at the cemetery.
The Israeli Defense Ministry said that 826 new members of the security forces were added to the list of the country’s dead this year, in addition to 834 victims of terror attacks – almost all of whom died in the October 7 Hamas attack and subsequent attacks. Gaza war.
Faced with the toll of the current war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reminded people why he asked families to pay.
“It’s either us, Israel, or they, the monster of Hamas,” he said. “It’s either survival, freedom, security and prosperity; or destruction, massacre, rape and conquest. We are determined to win.”
His speech was decidedly less combative than usual – his calls to continue “until victory” were tempered – but he again justified continuing the war by quoting those who had paid the highest price. He said a soldier with both legs amputated urged him to “stay the course”.
Doron Perez said he listened to only half of the prime minister’s speech and that his thoughts were on his son Daniel, a tank commander who was killed in the Oct. 7 attack killed.
Daniel’s body was still being held by Hamas in Gaza after his family buried his blood-stained uniform under the monument on Mount Herzl two months ago.
“[Almost] Since the founding of the state of Israel, 25,000 soldiers have been killed,” Doron said. “For me, this particular battle is the most obvious because we need to risk our lives. This is not a political issue, but about Israel’s existence. This is one of those ‘to be or not to be’ moments.
Despite support from some families, this Memorial Day remains a sensitive time for the Israeli prime minister. Beneath the national unity shown by the country’s war dead, there are growing questions and disagreements about Israel’s war goals and its outcome.
Israeli forces are currently fighting Hamas in northern and central Gaza, areas that were previously declared safe zones. It was reported that 14 Israeli soldiers died last week alone. The more Palestinian deaths last week barely count here.
Standing at the grave of his daughter Rebecca, Robert Baruch said family history is scattered around the cemetery – an uncle who fought in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence is buried just yards away was killed.
“I don’t know how we’ll look back on this twenty years from now – I hope we’ll say it was a terrible final phase with a happy ending. But at what cost?”
With no clear post-war plan in place and more than 130 hostages still being held there, Mr Netanyahu’s decision to continue fighting in Gaza has led to growing conflict inside the country.
On Sunday night, Israel’s chief of military staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said he felt the weight of Hamas attacks on his shoulders every day. “It’s my responsibility to answer the tough questions that keep you awake,” he told bereaved families.
In contrast, the Israeli prime minister has praised the military’s sense of responsibility while remaining virtually silent himself.
But his focus on fallen heroes does not resolve the charges against him: that it was under his leadership that Hamas became powerful enough to launch last October’s attacks; that, in his view, Israeli intelligence failed, His choice to continue the conflict now has its roots in his own political survival.
Benjamin Netanyahu faces a military war in Gaza and a growing political war at home.
