As Israel remembers its fallen soldiers and terror victims today on Yom Hazikaron, new figures released by the Defense Ministry reveal the staggering toll the Jewish people have taken this year.

While serving on active duty this year, 766 IDF soldiers were killed, with an additional 61 disabled veterans succumbing to complications from injuries sustained during their service in previous years. The ongoing war with Hamas, which erupted on October 7, has claimed a devastating toll, with 716 soldiers and members of security forces, as well as 822 civilians – including 40 children under the age of 18 and 68 foreign nationals – losing their lives.

Compounding the nation’s grief, Hamas abducted 252 civilians and soldiers during its October onslaught, with 128 remaining in captivity, their fates uncertain. The terror group also continues to hold the bodies of IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014, as well as two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are believed to be alive after voluntarily entering the Gaza Strip in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

On Yom Hazikaron, two air raid sirens resound across Israel, marking the nation’s collective remembrance of its fallen soldiers and terror victims. The first siren is sounded to signal the commencement of the memorial day, while the second is heard prior to the public recitation of prayers in military cemeteries throughout the country.

During these two-minute periods, all activity comes to a complete standstill. Busy highways fall silent as traffic halts, and people pause wherever they are, standing in solemn tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the nation.

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