In protest of the recruitment law: Dozens of ultra-Orthodox block the Geha road. High-security pilgrimage to Israel, a year after a deadly stampede. The situation has been described as a stampede, as people tried to leave, with videos shared on social media showing people trying to leave through a heavily crowded corridor and climbing through gaps in sheets of iron. The extremist demand of the ultra-Orthodox: 'Do not want police in Meron on Lag BOmer' Israel Today. Many had gathered to mark Lag BaOmer commemorations in Mount Meron (Photo: NIR ELIAS/REUTERS)
It was a disaster,” a witness told the publication. “It happened in a split second people just fell, trampling each other. It occurred at around 1am local time, and sources told Haaretz newspaper that it began after some people slipped on the steps which led to many more people falling. The religious holiday of Lag B’Omer draws tens of thousands of mostly ultra-Orthodox Jewish men to Mount Meron where a prominent rabbi is believed to be buried in northern Israel each year. Tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews had gathered at the Mount Meron at the Galilee tomb of 2nd-century sage Rabbi Shim Bar Yochai for the occasion.Ī crush at the event led to 44 people being killed and many more being injured during the Lag BaOmer commemorations. People generally spend the day outdoors and children play with bows and arrows. Meron in northern Israel, Friday, April 30, 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. Israel is observing a day of mourning for the 45 people crushed to death at a Jewish religious festival - as questions are raised about how the disaster happened. Other customs on the day including lighting bonfires and it is also a day that many weddings take place and some children get their first haircuts. Israeli security officials and rescuers carry a body of a victim who died during a Lag BaOmer celebrations at Mt. News Israel mourns Lag BaOmer festival stampede victims.