Israel opens inquiry into deadly stampede at Jewish festival

Security officials and rescuers stand around the bodies of victims of the stampede during Lag Baomer celebrations at Mount Meron in northern Israel in April (Ishay Jerusalemite/Behadrei Haredim/AP)

An Israeli government commission investigating a deadly stampede at a Jewish pilgrimage site in April held its first day of hearings on Sunday, almost four months after 45 people were killed.

The incident at the Jewish festival at Mount Meron in northern Israel on April 29 was the deadliest civilian disaster in the country’s history.