Parents of Fallen IDF Officer Allowed to Use His Sperm for Child

A family court in Rishon LeZion has permitted the parents of a fallen Golani Brigade company commander to use his sperm to have a child, nearly two years after his death in combat. The court granted the request after the legal advisor to the government did not oppose it. The officer, who was 24 at the time of his death, took command of his unit in September 2024 and was killed about a month later with four other soldiers in a battle in the southern Lebanese village of Ayta ash-Shab.

Immediately after his death, his parents authorized the retrieval of his sperm and the donation of his corneas, which were successfully transplanted. Twelve sperm samples were collected and cryopreserved. In December 2025, the parents filed a lawsuit seeking permission to use the sperm for posthumous procreation.

The father testified that his son had expressed a desire for offspring from his sperm during a trip to Greece, asking his father to ensure he had children if he did not return from the war. Friends from his past service in the Egoz unit also corroborated that the fallen officer had spoken of his wish for continuity and even joked about his mother choosing a suitable partner.

Judge Revka Makais was convinced by the parents' and friends' testimonies that the deceased officer's "presumed" wish was to have descendants. She noted that these were not general statements but specific conversations where he clearly articulated his desire for continuation, even while aware of the dangers of combat. The court approved the use of his sperm, pending court approval of a future agreement with the intended mother.