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Israel mourns festival stampede victims

May 2, 2021

Flags were flown at half-staff, events were called off and candles were lit across Israel as the country remembered the 45 people who died during a stampede at a religious festival.

https://p.dw.com/p/3srQ0
A person places a candle at a memorial for those killed in a stampede at a religious festival in Israel
People in Tel Aviv lit candles in memory of the 45 victims killedImage: Oded Balilty/AP Photo/picture alliance

Israel held a national day of mourning on Sunday to remember those who were killed at the Lag BaOmer festival earlier this week.

At least 45 people were killed at the festival at Mount Meron that was attended by thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews. The incident was the deadliest civilian disaster in the country's history.

Flags were flown at half-staff on official buildings and military bases across the country on Sunday. Sporting events were canceled and many came to pay their respects at the site of the disaster.

Pope Francis also offered his condolences during a service at St. Peter's Square and prayed for those who lost their lives.

On Monday, Israel's parliament will hold a special session to remember the victims and light memorial candles.

Emergency workers comfort one another at the site of a deadly stampede in Mount Meron, Israel
Emergency workers comforted one another at the site of the deadly stampedeImage: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS

What happened at the festival?

The deadly stampede broke out on Thursday night at the Lag BaOmer festival, one of the first major mass gatherings to take place after coronavirus restrictions had been lifted.

Around 100,000 mostly ultra-Orthodox Jews attended the Mount Meron festival, which is marked with bonfires, singing and dancing.

The stampede is believed to have started when people began to slide down a ramp with a metal floor, causing people crammed in a narrow corridor to fall on one another and panic.

The resulting crush left 45 people dead at some 150 injured. Among those killed were children as young as 12.

Crowds of mainly ultra-Orthodox Jews gather at Mount Meron for the festival of Lag B'Omer
The festival has been approved for 10,000 attendees, but Israeli media estimate around 100,000 people showed upImage: Jalaa Marey/AFP

Politicians and police face scrutiny

Event organizers and officials have come under fire over the event, which was initially registered to have 10,000 participants.

Police have been accused of allowing people to enter the area where the stampede took place despite it already being packed. Authorities are also accused of not quickly opening exits on the sides once people began panicking.

Officials have also been criticized for ignoring warnings about security concerns at the site as well as allowing the festival to take place without crowd restrictions.

Reports have emerged that ultra-Orthodox politicians pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into lifting curbs to allow the event to take place.

A group of retired police commissioners released a statement on Sunday calling for a wide-ranging probe into the disaster. An independent commission would have the authority to look into politicians and other officials involved in greenlighting the event.

The current investigation is only focusing on possible police misconduct.

rs/sms (AP, dpa)