New Delhi, April 21: A state memorial ceremony for the victims of war attacks in Israel was held on Tuesday. The event was attended by President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and families of those affected by the Iranian war attacks. They reiterated their commitment to national security and a strong response to future threats.
In his address, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed deep empathy, stating, “My dear brothers and sisters, your profound loss is our loss. Your deep sorrow is our sorrow. The physical and mental pain of the injured is our pain.”
He emphasized unity, saying, “We are like one family, and standing together is our strength. We mourn together, share our grief, and remember the words from the Book of Ecclesiastes: If one falls, the other will lift him up. Together, we will continue to fight our enemies and defeat those who threaten our lives.”
Netanyahu referenced an incident from seven months ago in Jerusalem, where a little girl, Sarita Mendelson, lost her mother to gunfire. He remarked on the deep moral divide between those who wish to annihilate them and the clear-hearted people of Israel. “Since our national renaissance began, these hate-filled individuals have stood against us,” he noted.
He criticized the inflammatory rhetoric of their religious leaders and the toxic content in educational materials that have been shaping young minds for generations.
Netanyahu recalled the riots that began 90 years ago in 1936, which severely impacted the Jewish community, yet they persevered. He pointed out that the brutal and extremist nature of their neighbors was starkly revealed during the October 7 attacks, known as the massacre in the western Negev on Simchat Torah.
He mentioned his last speech at the United Nations in September 2025, where he urged for the testimony of those events to be displayed at the UN building. In that speech, he called on the world to understand the truth of their struggle through a code available online.
“Millions have witnessed the horrific crimes committed by Hamas,” he said. “Weeks later, with military pressure on Hamas and support from our ally, the United States, we successfully brought back all hostages, but the story does not end here. We are still striving to hold accountable those who have harmed us. With the help of special teams from the IDF and ISA, we pursue them and have achieved many successes.”
He concluded by sharing his experience during the initiation of Operation ‘Roaring Lion’ in Beit Shemesh, where he saw Israeli flags among the rubble of areas affected by Iranian attacks. “This is a symbol of courage and resilience, refusing to bow to those who bring destruction and devastation.”
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