Israeli Government Refuses to Recognize Digital Witnesses of October 7 Attacks as Terror Victims
On July 2, 2026, during a protest at the Nova complex in Re'im parking lot, families of victims from the October 7, 2023 attacks highlighted a legal dispute over recognition of terror victims. Although many relatives were not physically present in the Gaza border area during the attacks, they experienced trauma by hearing or seeing their loved ones being attacked in real time via phone calls or digital means. These family members have suffered severe psychological damage and post-traumatic stress.
However, the Israeli government's legal advisor, Gali Baharav-Miara, maintains that current law does not permit recognizing individuals as victims of terror solely based on "digital presence." The existing legal framework, established under the 1970 Victims of Hostile Acts Law, requires physical presence at the event to qualify for official recognition and benefits. Baharav-Miara warned that expanding recognition to digital witnesses could blur legal boundaries, making it difficult to determine eligibility and potentially leading to an unmanageable increase in claims.
Statistics presented by the legal advisor show that in 2023, approximately 78,000 victims were recognized following the October 7 attacks, mostly for psychological injuries, with around 450 claims based on digital exposure all rejected. The government fears that recognizing digital exposure could open a "slippery slope," complicating distinctions between direct witnesses and those exposed to media coverage or subsequent investigations.
In contrast, advocacy groups such as the 121 Association and the "Light on the Horizon" partnership argue that the law is outdated and must be amended to reflect modern realities. Liat Eilam, CEO of 121, emphasized that many people heard or saw their relatives being killed through phones or screens, suffering real and deep trauma that deserves recognition and support. They propose a limited expansion of eligibility to first-degree relatives who were digitally connected to the event in real time.
Legal aid clinics, including the University of Haifa's wartime legal assistance clinic, continue to challenge the government's stance in court, arguing that existing law can accommodate recognition of digital victims. They highlight the prolonged suffering of claimants awaiting decisions and call for legislative changes to address the gap between the 1970 law and the technological realities of the October 7 attacks. The debate centers on how to define "presence" and responsibility for support in an era where trauma can be experienced remotely but with equal severity.
