the national tribute to soldiers and victims of attacks in a particular context in Israel

Like every year, Israel pays tribute to soldiers who died in service and to victims of attacks. A significant day this year, seven months after October 7.

Israel pays tribute to its fallen on Yom Hazikaron, the day honoring soldiers who died in service and victims of attacks. 620 soldiers and police officers were killed during and since the attack carried out in Israel by Hamas on October 7. At 11 a.m., Monday May 13, the country froze at the sound of the siren. A tribute was held at Mount Herzl, the military cemetery in Jerusalem.

Mount Herzl freezes. Near the graves, in the aisles, thousands of Israelis stand and observe two minutes of silence. At the bottom of the hill, plot 13 zone B, ten graves, ten soldiers and the same date of death for all: October 7, 2023. Valentin Ghenassia, 22 years old, originally from Montpellier, rests here. Around the grave, friends come to comfort Geneviève the mother: “I’m surviving because he’s no longer here. But he’s upstairs, he says to me, ‘Mom, hold on.’ Of course, from time to time, I break down but I don’t have want to show it today He gave his life Everyone tells me ‘You have to take care of yourself’, for the moment, I can’t. no more desire.”

“All the people of Israel are present”

“Elijah”, that’s what Ochea called Valentin. He was like his adopted son. He welcomed him when he arrived in Israel, invited him to dinner on Shabbat: “We have not yet found peace. During the burial, there were almost 4,000 people here. All the people of Israel are present. This does not console but it shows why Elijah fell and why he fought. It was very important for him to come from France to fight for the people of Israel and the people of Israel accompanied him and received this sacrifice.”

In the same row, another tomb is covered with flowers and small stones: it is that of Reouven Chicportiche. For his brother, the presence of these thousands of Israelis on Monday at Mount Hertzl brings a little comfort: “We had chills and we felt nostalgia, sadness. We have hope that he was not killed for nothing. Everyone who is here is a hero. I am not a politician . I trust the country, the people. They will do what is necessary. We also fought. My second brother is in Gaza at the moment, that’s why he didn’t come. “It was important for him today as always to continue to fight to regain our honor and our pride and to show them that they cannot do what they want.” “Our war is not over, it will either be the monsters of Hamas or us,” declared Benjamin Netanyahu during the ceremony.