Israelis paused on Tuesday in recognition of Remembrance Day, or Memorial Day, to honor those who have died from war and terrorism, despite the political turmoil that has engulfed the country in past months.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the annual acknowledgment, that honors the 24,213 who died in service to Israel and the 4,255 terrorism victims, in a call for unity.
"Today, more than ever, on the day we remember the heroes of the nation, we must remember that we are brothers: Jews, Druze, Muslims, Bedouins, Christians, Circassians," Netanyahu said in a speech at Israel's national ceremony at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem. "[We are] brothers in service, brothers in arms, brothers in blood."
Netanyahu's older brother Yonatan Netanyahu was killed during a raid in 1976 to free Israeli hostages from Entebbe, Uganda.
The day was not completely void of political disturbances as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was met by some protesters at the Beersheba military cemetery where demonstrators held up signs and some broke into song in an effort to drown out his speech but failed.
