Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday met with widows and orphans from the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization, in a solemn engagement held ahead of the country’s annual remembrance for fallen soldiers and victims of attacks.
The meeting comes in the lead-up to Yom HaZikaron, a deeply significant day in Israel, dedicated to honoring those who lost their lives in military service and acts of violence.
Speaking during the gathering, Netanyahu reflected on personal loss, recalling the death of his older brother, Yonatan Netanyahu, who was killed during a military operation.
He described the grief as overwhelming and enduring.
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“How does one live with the grief? It is very difficult,” the prime minister said. “I lost my eldest brother, and it was as if someone took an axe and cut off my arm and my leg.”
He recounted a moment of consolation during his mourning period, when another bereaved individual reassured him that, over time, the intensity of the pain would lessen.
“I know you won’t believe me, but the torment you are going through will not always have this intensity,” Netanyahu said, adding that despite the profound loss, “there is life after this.”
The prime minister acknowledged the enduring pain faced by families of the fallen but emphasized the possibility of renewal and hope.
“There are also new chapters, and you will have new lives and new joys. Joys will come. I know it’s hard to believe right now, but they will,” he said.
Netanyahu also underscored what he described as the enduring significance of those who have died in service to the country, stating that their sacrifices are foundational to Israel’s continued existence.
“It is not in vain, because without them, we have no existence,” he said. “We are here thanks to the heroes, our chain of heroes.”
He concluded by addressing the children present, telling them that despite their loss, their parents’ legacy endures.
“Your fathers are the ones who ensure the eternity of Israel,” he said.
The meeting formed part of a series of commemorative events held nationwide each year as Israel prepares to mark its Memorial Day.
