It is the largest annual public event held in Israel. The Lag B'Omer festival is an annual Jewish religious holiday marking the anniversary of the death of an influential rabbi who died some 19 centuries ago. Ultra-Orthodox Jews gather at the grave site of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai at Mount Meron on Thursday. The prime minister commended the efforts of the вЂњvery fast police rescue and operationвЂќ adding that we вЂњowe them great thanks for preventing a much bigger disaster.вЂќ The Israeli authorities had advised participants not to make the annual pilgrimage to the town of Meron this year in light of Covid-19 risks.В Netanyahu said a вЂњthorough investigationвЂќ would be conducted to вЂњensure a disaster like this does not happen again. Netanyahu declared this coming Sunday вЂњas a day of national mourning' and asked people to вЂњcome together for the sake of the families and pray for the well-being of the wounded. вЂњThere were heart-breaking scenes here,вЂќ Netanyahu said, referencing distressing images of вЂњpeople who were crushed to death, including children.вЂќДЄ вЂњlarge portionвЂќ of the victims have still not been identified, Netanyahu said, urging people to вЂњdesist from spreading rumors on social media because this will break the familiesвЂ™ hearts.вЂќ The stampede took place during celebrations for the religious festival of Lag B'Omer in the early hours of Friday and has so far claimed the lives of 45 people, according to the Israeli Health Ministry. 'Our hearts are with the families and the wounded,' he added, according to a specially recorded video for his Facebook page.

Israel stampede lag b omer