Israel to Allow 'Kidnapped' Designation on Soldiers' Gravestones

The Israeli Ministry of Defense is proposing changes to regulations governing inscriptions on military cemetery headstones, allowing families of fallen soldiers who were kidnapped to add the designation 'kidnapped' and, in relevant cases, the date of their abduction. The proposed amendment, published Tuesday, aims to accommodate requests from bereaved families whose loved ones were abducted and killed while in captivity.

Under the current regulations, headstones follow a uniform format detailing the soldier's identity and the circumstances of their death. The Ministry of Defense explained that the uniformity is intended to uphold principles of equality and consistency in military cemeteries, necessitating a regulatory change to include information about abduction.

The proposal distinguishes between two scenarios: if the date of abduction coincides with the date of death, the word 'kidnapped' can be added to the description of the death circumstances. If the abduction occurred on a different date, that date can also be specified alongside the cause of death.

The Public Council for Commemoration of the Soldier, an advisory body to the Defense Minister on military cemeteries and commemoration, discussed the request on July 19. The council recommended by a majority vote to permit the added inscription, a recommendation accepted by Defense Minister Israel Katz.

The Ministry of Defense noted that 251 civilians, soldiers, and security personnel were abducted to the Gaza Strip during the October 7 attacks. The proposed amendment will apply to individuals officially recognized as having been kidnapped, upon the request of a family member. The new rules require approval from the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee before they can take effect.