Israeli media: Mount Herzl military cemetery nearing capacity

Israeli media have reported that the military cemetery on Mount Herzl is nearing full capacity for the burial of Israeli occupation soldiers, amid a sharp rise in casualties since 7^th October 2023.

According to data presented by the “Matva” unit of the Israeli Ministry of Defence to a local planning and building appeals committee in Jerusalem, the cemetery has exhausted all available graves designated for soldiers in recent months.

The Israeli daily Calcalist reported that the committee reviewed an appeal related to an exceptional decision issued in September 2025, allowing the temporary use of 7.7 dunams (approximately 1.7 acres) within the cemetery to create additional burial space. The expansion is expected to accommodate between 500 and 600 new graves over a five-year period.

The decision was reportedly taken in response to an unexpected surge in casualties, which has accelerated the depletion of burial space beyond prior projections.

The Ministry of Defence has also requested the preparation of new areas within designated public land to serve as future military cemeteries, indicating growing concern over long-term capacity.

According to the submitted data, the remains of 1,227 Israeli soldiers have been transferred since 7^th October 2023, with 240 of them buried at Mount Herzl, highlighting the scale of losses sustained during ongoing military operations.