A moving tribute to hostage survivors will be featured in Israel's Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony. The 140 flag bearers participating in the 77th ceremony will form the shape of a heart and replicate the wounded hand gesture displayed by hostage survivors Liri Albag and Emily Damari when they were released from Hamas captivity in Gaza.

Hi X thanks for all the love

On October 7 I was shot in my hand and leg, last week I finally had surgery to help the pain.

I embrace my hand, my leg and my scars - to me they represent freedom, hope and strength.

I thank G-d, the IDF, and everyone who fought to give me… pic.twitter.com/nfrNhtdBEV

— Emily Damari (@EmilyDamari1) March 2, 2025

 The flag bearers will perform these two hand signals during the traditional military drills portion of the ceremony at Mount Herzl. These gestures quickly became powerful symbols of hope and freedom after the two women endured prolonged captivity in Hamas hands.

This touching decision coincides with thousands of Israelis recommending hostage survivors Eli Sharabi and military lookouts Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Agam Berger, and Naama Levy to light torches at the upcoming Independence Day celebration. The committee that recently received public recommendations will soon meet to narrow down the names to several dozen candidates. These will then be submitted to Minister Miri Regev, who oversees the ceremony on behalf of the government. Minister Regev will ultimately select the 2025 torch lighters.

The official ceremony will take place on Mount Herzl on April 30, with this year's theme being "Bridges of Hope." The military portion follows the torch lighting and includes drill exercises featuring meaningful formations. Along with the heart and hand gestures that have become global symbols, the flag bearers will again form the yellow ribbon shape associated with the campaign to return the hostages. These formations are performed by a special unit comprising Israel Defense Forces soldiers from various corps, Israel Police flag bearers, and members of the Fire and Rescue Service. In total, this year's ceremony will include 75 flag bearers and 65 soldiers from the main flag unit, who began rehearsals six weeks ago.

Another issue emerging among ceremony organizers concerns filming IDF soldiers during the event. According to sources familiar with the ceremony management, military officials have instructed commanders to film flag bearers from a distance, avoiding close-ups that clearly show their faces. This directive reflects the military's growing attention to international law requirements, resulting in dramatically reduced exposure of IDF soldiers' faces, for both conscripts and career personnel. In January, former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi issued new guidelines on exposure protocols for military personnel, specifying that only officers ranked Brigadier General and above may have their names, faces, and unit affiliations revealed. All other soldiers and officers must be interviewed with blurred faces or filmed from behind, with only the first letter of their names permitted for disclosure.

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Chilling footage circulating on social media Sunday showed soldiers Itay Amir and Liri Albag dancing joyfully together, unaware of the tragic fate that awaited them – he would lose his life in combat in the Gaza Strip, while she would be taken hostage by Hamas terrorists.

Video: Albag and Amir dancing at a volunteering event for senior citizens / Credit: Free usage under Israeli copyright law (Section 27A)

Albag was one of five female field observers abducted from the Nahal Oz military base on Oct. 7. A video taken by Hamas of their abduction was released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in May. All five are still held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.

Amir was one of eight soldiers killed in an explosion of an armored personnel carrier early Saturday morning in the western Rafah area.

The video, posted on Facebook, showed Amir and Albag, who were classmates, during a volunteering event at a senior citizens' club in Beersheba.

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