Israel holds toned down Independence Day celebrations as Gaza war rages

Israel began toned down Independence Day celebrations at sundown on Monday, with hopes for an end to the seven-month-old Gaza war dim, anti-government
protests growing and internal divisions festering.
As the country marks its 76th year, firework displays were cancelled and the traditional torch-lighting ceremony at the Jerusalem national cemetery will be taped for TV audiences instead of livestreamed.
Opposition lawmakers blasted the move as an attempt at stifling protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has come under attack at live events from hecklers furious about his failure to bring home the 128 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
Simon Davidson, from the centrist Yesh Atid party, posted a video on the social media platform X, accusing Netanyahu’s Transport Minister Miri Regev – responsible for organising the torch-lighting ceremony – of bypassing Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, and using the event for political objectives.
The war began when the Gaza-based Palestinian militant group Hamas burst into border communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.