Israel permits post-mortem sperm collection from casualties of Hamas conflict
Israel places a high value on family, children, and preserving generations, even when it means pushing aside ethical concerns. Laws have recently been altered allowing the collection of sperm from civilians and soldiers, who lost their lives in conflicts with Hamas.
11:54 AM EST, November 13, 2023
Reports from international media suggest that the Israel Ministry of Health has permitted families to collect sperm from soldiers or civilians who have died in the ongoing war with Hamas since October. Previously, a court order was necessary for post-mortem sperm collection. It is believed that this requirement has been temporarily suspended, although no official announcement has been made.
"Family and children are priorities for Israelis. This is one reason why Israel is considered one of the trailblazers in the field of reproductive medicine," says Dr. Noga Fuchs Weizman, a fertility specialist from Tel Aviv, as quoted by "Münchner Merkur".
The "Los Angeles Times" reports that sperm has already been collected from 33 men within a single month. Four of them were civilians while the majority were soldiers. It is advised by the Ministry that this collection procedure should ideally be completed within 24 hours of death, preferably before the burial. To facilitate this, a special unit has been assembled that operates around the clock, partnering with the Israel Defense Forces and four hospitals equipped with sperm banks.
This method enables the collection and cryopreservation (freezing) of the deceased individual's sperm for future use. "Even a non-motile sperm cell can still be viable. We have the technology to mobilize it after thawing," asserts Dr. Yuval Or, head of an Israeli clinic.
Last week, the Israel Defense Forces reported that since October 7, at least 1,400 people have died.
