45 Killed in Crush , at Israeli Religious Festival.
At least 45 people were crushed to death
at the religious festival Lag B'Omer
in Galilee on Mount Meron.
The festival is gender-segregated.
The deaths occurred mostly in
the male section and include children.
Tens of thousands of celebrants attended the
festival despite COVID warnings to socially distance.
An investigation will seek answers to
how the stampede occurred and if police
conduct in any way contributed to the tragedy.
Many of the dead have not yet been identified. Blood drives were initiated all over Israel to assist the injured.
There were reports that U.S. citizens
may have been among those who were killed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited
the site and announced a day of mourning for
the disaster to take place on Sunday