Gaza war: Israel marks 76th Independence Day worried and deeply fractured
- Israel marks its 76th Independence Day on Tuesday, but key events are cancelled
- It follows Memorial Day, which was a stark reminder of the October 7 Hamas attack
Memorial sirens for generations of Israeli war dead sounded throughout the country on Monday, while air raid sirens warned of incoming shelling as the conflict triggered by the October 7 Hamas attack dragged on into its eighth month.
Every year, Israel marks Independence Day with a live-streamed torch-lighting ceremony at its Jerusalem national cemetery.
Select citizens light 12 beacons, creating a transition from a mournful 24 hours focused on fallen warriors and terror victims to fireworks and parades celebrating Jewish national sovereignty.
This year, as Israel turns 76 in the middle of a ferocious war, things are different.
It’s not just that the fireworks and air force flyover have been cancelled. It’s that the government is afraid to livestream the event for fear of disruption from Hamas or citizens furious over the failure to bring home hostages held in Gaza since October 7. The event will be taped and distributed to TV channels later.
So while much of the world is focused on Palestinian misery and civilian deaths brought by Israel’s war in Gaza, Israelis themselves will mourn what they’ve lost as a result of Hamas’ attack – hundreds of civilians and soldiers along with a sense of national safety.