Israel eyes to establish National Day of Remembrance

The Israeli government plans to vote on October 13 for the establishment of the National Day of Remembrance on the 24th day of Tishrei, which this year falls on October 26-27.

Two state ceremonies to commemorate the victims of October 7 and to honour the soldiers who fell during Operation "Iron Swords", will be timed to this day, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media.

Both ceremonies will be held on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (GMT+3), with "four symbols of authority", namely, President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, and judge of Supreme Court Isaac Amit.

This year's National Day of Remembrance will begin at 7:45 p.m. on October 26, and will conclude 24 hours later on October 27. When the Day of Remembrance begins, state flags will be flown at half-mast, including at diplomatic missions abroad. All entertainment activities will be canceled, and special lessons will be held at schools and universities. 

The ceremonies will be organised by Miri Regev, who is also the initiator of establishing the National Day of Remembrance. She will determine the status and protocol for the memorial events.

On October 31, 2023, less than a month after the war began, several MPs proposed to establish a national Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Hamas attack. The government has been discussing this proposal since March 2024.

"October 7 will forever be etched in Israel's collective consciousness as a day of horrific terrorist attack. It is especially important to commemorate this event on the first anniversary of the biggest terror attack in our country's history, considering the sentiments of Israeli society," the explanatory note of the bill says.

This year, two ceremonies were held on October 7—one official and one public—acknowledged in an "exceptional format" due to the significant interest surrounding the date. Future commemorations will be linked to the corresponding date on the Jewish calendar.

By Naila Huseynova