Despite the climate of strong tension and uncertainty in West Asia, the organizations Combatants for Peace and Parents Circle – Families Forum confirm that the 21st Joint Memorial Ceremony will take place as scheduled on April 20, 2025 at 20:30 (Jerusalem time).
“The Joint Memorial Ceremony, organized by Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle Families Forum, is the largest Israeli-Palestinian jointly organized peace event in history. It provides a unique opportunity for Israelis and Palestinians to grieve together and stand strong in demanding an end to the occupation and violence.
The ceremony occurs yearly on the eve of Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day). In Israeli mainstream culture, the ceremonies that are most often held to honor this day serve to reinforce cultural narratives of pain, victimhood, and hopelessness. The Joint Memorial transforms this narrative by bringing Palestinians to the Memorial alongside Israelis to mourn side by side and model another way forward.” (https://www.cfpeace.org/joint-ceremonies)
The first edition of the ceremony, 21 years ago, involved around 70 participants; over the years the event has grown to bring together hundreds of people in person and, thanks to online broadcasting, hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
It will be possible to organize public screenings of the ceremony within local communities globally. Interested groups can register the event by filling out the online form: https://form.jotform.com/260682937554064
