Sirens wail and people pause as Israel commemorates war dead

Gabi Schiffer touches the grave of his cousin, fallen Israeli soldier Eliyahu Slonin, ahead of the country’s memorial day for fallen soldiers and victims of attacks, at the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery in Tel Aviv (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Israel has honoured its soldiers and civilians killed in wars and militant attacks, with air raid sirens wailing nationwide for two minutes and citizens observing a moment of pause for Memorial Day.

Ceremonies and poetry readings were held at cemeteries for the more than 24,000 people lost in Israel’s conflicts, before the occasion turns more festive at sundown with parties and military flyovers to kick off Independence Day. This Thursday marks Israel’s 74th.