{"id":2906,"date":"2026-04-21T05:41:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T05:41:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/israelagora.com.br\/en\/?page_id=2906"},"modified":"2026-04-21T05:41:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T05:41:27","slug":"unidade-em-meio-a-dor-lideres-israelenses-pedem-uniao-no-dia-da-memoria","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/israelagora.com.br\/en\/?page_id=2906","title":{"rendered":"Unity amid grief: israeli leaders call for unity on remembrance day"},"content":{"rendered":"
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President Isaac Herzog and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir at a Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall, April 20, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg\/Flash90)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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\r\n\t#Remembrance day<\/a><\/p>

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\r\n\tDuring Israel’s official Remembrance Day ceremony, held on Monday night at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, President Isaac Herzog and the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), General Eyal Zamir, made a strong appeal for national unity<\/strong><\/p>

They highlighted the country’s resilience in times of war and remembered the sacrifices of fallen soldiers and civilians.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe ceremony marked the beginning of a day of deep mourning on the Israeli calendar, in which the entire country stops to honor those who died in battles or terrorist attacks.<\/p>

\r\nIt all started at 8pm, with the sound of a one-minute siren that silenced the nation.<\/p>

\r\nThen the flame of memory was lit on the Western Wall.<\/p>

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President Isaac Herzog speaks during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall, April 20, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg\/Flash90)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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This was the third Remembrance Day since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which began a long series of fighting on multiple fronts.<\/p>

\r\nBoth Herzog and Zamir recognized the deep divisions that have marked Israeli society, especially during the war, and reinforced the need to overcome these differences.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nHerzog reminded soldiers of the current generation and encouraged them to think about the future, after the conflict.<\/p>

\r\n“We are still in the middle of the campaign.<\/p>

\r\nIn recent days, more beloved sons have been added to the list of fallen,” he said, referring to the soldiers killed in the recent fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon, sparked by the war with Iran.<\/p>

\r\nHe described the war as a national test that the Israeli people have faced with extraordinary strength, despite the unbearable pain.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe president cited stories and writings from soldiers killed in Gaza, Lebanon and in previous wars.<\/p>

\r\nHe defended the balance between military strength and moral values: “We do not live by the sword, but alongside it.<\/p>

\r\nWe wield the sword with one hand when necessary, but the other hand must always support the spirit that yearns for peace, freedom and dignity.” Herzog concluded with a message of hope: the nation has “a single song, made up of many voices.” When these voices silence each other, the danger grows; when they sing together, the nation becomes stronger.<\/p>

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IDF soldiers stand at attention during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem”s Old City, April 20, 2026, as Israel commemorates its fallen soldiers and victims of terror. (Chaim Goldberg\/Flash90)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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General Zamir, in turn, praised the achievements of the Israeli forces.<\/p>

\r\nHe cited the rescue of Hamas hostages, the creation of new security zones on the borders of Gaza and Syria, and actions in Lebanon.<\/p>

\r\nRegarding Iran, he stated that the army will not allow the regime to carry out its destructive plans against Israel.<\/p>

\r\n“We will continue to stand guard, guaranteeing the eternity of Israel,” he said.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nZamir also spoke about the importance of the entire society participating in the country’s defense, in reference to the debate on the military service of ultra-Orthodox (haredim).<\/p>

\r\n“We need a deep partnership between all parts of the nation to carry this burden together,” he emphasized.<\/p>

\r\n“Cohesion is a condition for our existence.”<\/p>

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a ceremony on the eve of Israel”s Memorial Day at Yad Labanim in Jerusalem, April 20, 2026. (Marc Israel Sellem\/POOL)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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In a previous ceremony promoted by the Yad Labanim organization in Jerusalem, voices of bereaved families were highlighted.<\/p>

\r\nThe mother of a soldier killed in Gaza said her son died on a mission to try to save hostages, including his mother and two young children from the Bibas family.<\/p>

\r\nShe called for national unity to honor the sacrifice of the fallen.<\/p>

\r\nPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also lost his brother in a military operation in the past, attended the event and stated that the fight against Iran is not over yet, although he praised the victories achieved so far.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nIn total, since 1860, 25,648 Israelis have died in conflicts, according to the Ministry of Defense.<\/p>

\r\nThe ceremony also included the participation of a haredi army brigade, which performed its own tribute, showing the effort for integration even amid different cultural sensitivities.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nOn a day of pain and remembrance, the leaders made the message clear: only with unity and deep partnership will Israel be able to overcome the challenges and build a future of hope.

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Published in 04\/21\/2026 05h41<\/em><\/p>\r\n

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Portuguese version<\/a><\/em><\/p>\r\n

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Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.<\/p>\r\n\t\t

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Reference article:<\/p>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n