In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Israel paused on Tuesday to remember the murder of six million Jews by the Nazis on Holocaust Remembrance Day.
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Across the country, sirens blared for two minutes, while the few pedestrians who were out in public in spite of lockdown restrictions paused and drivers pulled their cars over on streets and highways.
Israel has been under strict lockdown measures for more than a month in efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus, with most public life shut down, and many people working from home or out of work.
Others observed a moment of silence at homes from their balconies.
According to the Finance Ministry, 75 years after the end of World War II, there are still 189,500 Holocaust survivors in Israel.
About 70 per cent of them are above age 80 – making them particularly at risk from the COVID-19 disease as long as there’s no vaccination.
More than 13,880 people are confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus, with the country’s death toll at 181, according to the Health Ministry.
More than 4,350 have recovered, the ministry added.
To mark the event in spite of the virus restrictions, the coastal city of Tel Aviv was promoting online events, such as sharing survivors’ stories on Facebook.
The Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem had streamed a state opening ceremony on Monday night online, with translation in five languages.
Yad Vashem also invited people from around the world to participate in a virtual name-reading ceremony by reciting the names of victims.
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