'No wreaths left' Israel buries its dead as families demand answers

Jerusalem's streets have J been quiet since the devastating Hamas attack that killed at least 1,300 Israelis. But at the entrance to Mount Herzl, Israel's military cemetery, cars and coaches lined the road outside for 500m in both directions as the country began the long and sorrowful process of burying so many dead.

- Bethan McKernan

Thousands of people flowed up the steps to attend the back-to-back funerals of eight fallen soldiers yesterday. Many were softly crying, the plaza at the top of the hill overflowing with mourners as family members of those killed paid tribute. Several people carried the Israeli flag, or had it draped around their shoulders, and several men were carrying pistols and rifles.

Next to a makeshift flower stand, most of which were already gone, a sign on a piece of cardboard read: "You can take bouquets to the grave sites from here." At the burial of Lt Shilo Cohen, 24, a combat soldier, the voices of his family members were carried from the white tent set up over the coffin to the crowds at the back by a sound system. Not one managed to get through their farewells without crying.

"Our Shilo, look around, you can see many people here; instead of accompanying you to the celebration of your wedding, or the construction of a home, we are accompanying you to your eternal rest," his father said.

"You died on a holy Shabbat five days ago, and your mother told me she could not sleep until you were buried." In hundreds of towns and villages across Israel, the scene repeated. While in the Jewish tradition, burials should take place as soon as possible, in Israel the delay is often limited to two days.