Thousands Attend Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony in Tel Aviv

Combatants for Peace have been putting this important ceremony on for ten years.

With calls from settlers, aiming to derail the event, to shut it down, a small few came to express their racist hate and violent wishes toward the thousands of attendees as they waited to enter.

With calls from settlers aiming to derail the event to shut it down, a small few came to express their racist hate and violent wishes toward the thousands of attendees as they waited to enter.

Outside the event hall, a “memorial for the future victims of the conflict” has been set up.

Through the observation window is a grave marker that tells us that it does not want us to join the many dead.

During the ceremony blind Palestinian woman, Yasmine Aistaya tells of her father’s murder at the hands of a settler and life under occupation. She tells us that ‘the state betrays us… but music conquers all’ and proceeds to play beautifully with Israeli partners.

For the tenth consecutive year Combatants for Peace hosted a joint Palestinian-Israeli memorial ceremony "honoring the victims, fighting for peace" in Tel Aviv. As violent and racist extremism grows and death tolls rise, the will to mourn together is important as we acknowledge and oppose the occupation and its reality of asymmetrical power. Thousands came to mourn together, listen to beautiful music, and hear from speakers including members of the Parents Circle - Families Forum, made up of Palestinian and Israeli bereaved family members. The venue was so full this year that some couldn't get in. 

Note: These photos were taken with an older phone. Apologies for the low quality.