Israel has today been paying respects to the men and women who died in defence of the country today on Yom Hazikaron, its national Remembrance Day.

Ceremonies have been taking place in cemeteries across the land with a memorial candle and an Israeli flag with a black ribbon placed on the graves of the fallen.

The remembrance was ushered in last night with a siren introducing a minutes’s silence.

A total of 23,544 men and women have been killed in the service of the Jewish homeland since 1860 when the first Jewish settlement outside the Old City of Jerusalem was founded.

The figure includes 97 members of the IDF, police and border security who died since Yom Hazikaron last year.

A new National Hall of Remembrance has been inaugurated on Mount Herzl.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We are one people and it is clear to all of us that were it not for the sacrifice of these men and women, we would not be free in our own land. In fact, we would not be here at all.”

Referring to the “miracle” of Israel’s, he said, “We stand as a fortified wall against our enemies. We do not show weakness.

“We do not loosen our grip from the weapons in our hands because we know that this is the only way to push back the thickets of evil that refuse to accept our existence. This is the only way we will achieve peace with those of our neighbours who want peace.

“At the same time, we maintain our humanity.”

At 8 o’clock this evening, the mood will shift and Israelis begin celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut, Independence Day.