Court Allows Parents to Use Son's Sperm for Procreation After His Death

A family court in Rishon LeZion has granted parents permission to use their deceased son's sperm to have a child, in a precedent-setting ruling. Major Ofek Bakhar, a company commander in the Golani Brigade's reconnaissance unit, was killed in battle against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on October 16, 2024, at the age of 24. He did not leave a will and had no partner at the time of his death.

The court's decision hinged on a conversation Bakhar had with his father, Udi, in Athens in July 2024, during the ongoing Swords of Iron War. Bakhar, who had been wounded on October 7 but returned to combat the same day, expressed to his father the possibility he might not return from the war and asked him to "make sure I have children." Three months later, Bakhar fell in combat.

Following his death, Bakhar's parents obtained permission to harvest his sperm and donate his organs. They then initiated legal proceedings, led by attorney Nili Shatz, to use his sperm for posthumous procreation. The court was presented with the conversation with his father as key evidence, along with testimonies from two of Bakhar's close friends from his previous service in the Egoz Unit, who confirmed he had also expressed a desire for his parents to ensure his lineage continued if he were to die.

Senior Judge Revka Macais ruled on August 10, 2026, that the testimonies were credible and consistent, convincing her that Bakhar's wish was to have children even after his death. The permission granted is currently preliminary. The parents will need to return to court for final approval once a suitable mother is chosen.

An interview with Ofek Bakhar's parents, Ronit and Udi Bakhar, detailing their son, the fateful conversation, and their struggle to fulfill his dying wish, is set to be published this weekend.