Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men take part in a funeral ceremony in Jerusalem for a victim of an overnight stampede during a religious gathering in northern Israel, on April 30, 2021. – A massive stampede at a densely packed Jewish pilgrimage site killed at least 44 people in Israel, blackening the country’s largest COVID-era gathering. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 12:17 PM PT – Friday, April 30, 2021
The State Department has said multiple U.S. citizens were killed in a stampede at a religious festival in Israel.
U.S State Department on the #stampede in #Israel: “We can confirm that multiple U.S. citizens were among the casualties.”
— Dan Murphy (@dan_murphy) April 30, 2021
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised an investigation into the incident, which left at least 45 dead and 100 injured. Despite warnings to maintain social distancing, large crowds gathered at the Jewish festival during the celebration Lag BaOmer at Mount Meron.
Mourners visited the site of a fatal #stampede at Israel’s Mount Meron, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The incident happened during a crowded religious festival on Friday. Paramedics said 45 people were killed and as many as 150 were injured at the event. #Israel pic.twitter.com/MbrXQKa9tS
— CBS News 8 (@CBS8) April 30, 2021
According to reports, the stampede took palace in the men’s section of the festival.
“We will carry out a thorough, serious and in-depth investigation in order to ensure that such a disaster does not reoccur,” Netanyahu said.
