Today in photos: Thousands gather at Western Wall for Tisha B'Av lamentations

Thousands of people gathered at the Western Wall on Wednesday night to observe Tisha B'Av, commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples and other historical calamities. Notable figures present included National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The observance involves a 25-hour fast and the reading of the Book of Lamentations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a speech, stated that Israelis had prevented "the destruction of the Third Temple" over the past three years, adding, "We showed the world that the people of Israel are a brave people, a brave army, a generation of heroes." Other events associated with Tisha B'Av include the Roman destruction of Betar, various expulsions of Jews, and the 2005 Disengagement from Gaza.