Israel remembers Holocaust victims while vowing to confront modern threats

Israel held a nationwide observance for Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 24, 2025, emphasizing the memory of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. Amid an ongoing conflict against Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu connected the historical atrocities of the Holocaust with contemporary threats facing Israel, emphasizing that while the Jewish people were once defenseless, they are now determined to retaliate against those who wish to harm them. Netanyahu highlighted the ongoing antisemitism faced by Jewish Americans, which was a poignant reminder of the persistence of hate. In Poland, President Isaac Herzog participated in the March of the Living at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, accompanied by Holocaust survivors and Israeli hostages who were recently freed, symbolizing a bridge between past and present struggles for the Jewish people. The event also highlighted the dwindling number of Holocaust survivors, with projections showing that by 2035, only 66,250 survivors may remain, underscoring the urgency of remembering and honoring their experiences. The observance called for the return of hostages, as well as justice for the lives lost during the Holocaust, reaffirming a commitment that the Jewish community will not forget or forgive, emphasizing vigilance against current aggressors like Hamas and threats from Iran.