Dear Friends,
We are excited to announce the launch of the 2024 Annual Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Day Ceremony. In the midst of the violence, the despair and the most divided society in our history, we are choosing to follow a different path.
Now in its 19th year, the ceremony is a chance to reflect, to mourn, to acknowledge the pain of the other but also to feel there is hope. Since October 7th 2023, tens of thousands of lives have been cut short, families torn apart, children traumatized - now more than ever we need to continue to show up for one another, to demand an end to the war and call for a political solution that brings freedom, justice and safety for all. In mourning together, we seek not to equate experiences, but rather transform despair into hope and build compassion around our shared humanity. We remind ourselves and the world that occupation, oppression, and conflict are not inevitable.
The ceremony takes place on the eve of “Yom Ha’Zikaron” (Israeli Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror). It is one of the most somber days in Israel- where everything shuts down, the state TV channels only broadcast coverage of the national memorial ceremony- and everything feels very dark. But our ceremony is different. You will hear from both Israelis and Palestinians bereaved through conflict and feel the light seep in as we come together to both remember the past and look ahead to a brighter future.
The theme of the ceremony this year will focus on the stories of children. Children whose only crime was being born Palestinian or Israeli. What will be the future of the next generation?
Please, support the ceremony, so we can truly show the world that this is the will of the people, that the international community is behind us, and together, we can create a more peaceful future. Last year we had 300,000 people with us live - let’s grow our community, and declare once again - war is not an act of fate, there is another way!
In Peace & Solidarity from Israel/Palestine,
Rana Salman & Eszter Koranyi
Co-Directors, Combatants for Peace
