Son fell in Lebanon: Court allows parents to use his sperm
A 24-year-old company commander from the Golani Brigade fell in battle against Hezbollah two years ago. The court heard testimonies regarding the deceased's wish for offspring and granted the parents' request.
The parents of a company commander in the Golani Brigade who fell about two years ago in battle against Hezbollah terrorists have been granted permission to use his sperm to bring a child into the world. This ruling was issued on Sunday by the Family Court in Rishon LeZion.
In the absence of opposition from the Attorney General's office, Judge Rivka Makais granted the parents' request. Their son had assumed command of his company in the elite unit in September 2024, and approximately one month later, he was killed alongside four other soldiers during a battle in the village of Ayta ash-Shab in southern Lebanon. He was 24 at the time.
Immediately following his death, his parents signed consent forms for sperm retrieval and organ donation. Twelve doses of sperm were extracted and cryopreserved, and his cornea was successfully transplanted, restoring a patient's sight. In December 2025, the legal petition was filed to allow the use of the sperm to ensure his legacy.
His father testified that during a vacation in Greece, his son had explicitly asked him to ensure he would have children if he were to die in combat. The father recalled his son's words:
"If I do not return from the war, take good care of Mom and my brothers, and make sure I have children. I trust you to choose the right mother."
Friends who served with him in the "Egoz" unit confirmed that he had expressed a desire for continuity after his death, wishing to name his future child after his commander and friend, Major Shilo Har-Even, who fell on October 7.
In her ruling, Judge Makais stated:
"After reviewing the affidavits and hearing the testimonies of the plaintiffs and the two close friends of the deceased, the court is convinced that the plaintiffs have proven that the 'presumed' wish of the deceased was that he would have continuity even after his passing."
She emphasized that these were "very specific conversations" rather than general statements. The court authorized the use of the sperm, subject to the future approval of an agreement with the intended mother.
