After the death of her son, Yotam Haim, who was mistakenly killed by the IDF while trying to escape from Hamas captivity in Gaza, his mother, Iris Haim, is pursuing an unusual way to honor his memory by seeking to have a grandchild using sperm retrieved from Yotam's body, CNN reported earlier in July.
Yotam, who was 28 at the time of his death, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Azza on October 7, 2023, by Hamas terrorists. After 65 days in captivity, he was mistakenly killed by IDF troops along with two other hostages while attempting to escape in December 2023.
Shortly after being notified of her son's death, an officer quietly informed Iris that she could request sperm retrieval. The procedure was carried out immediately, resulting in ten viable samples, enough for up to five children.
According to Iris, her son had often spoken about wanting children. This desire now forms the basis of her legal battle to gain approval from an Israeli family court to use his sperm. While Israeli law permits sperm extraction after death, there is no clear legal framework for parents to use that sperm to produce grandchildren.
Posthumous sperm retrievals in Israel
Iris is not alone in this struggle. Posthumous sperm retrievals in Israel have sharply increased since the start of the war, with over 200 procedures performed on fallen soldiers and security personnel. Before these events, only about 15-20 such retrievals occurred annually.
Although the Health Ministry loosened its rules to allow more families to retrieve sperm, the use of this sperm remains subject to family court approval. Parents must demonstrate that their deceased sons would have wanted to have children, a requirement that can be difficult to meet, according to CNN.
In one recent case, a court in Eilat granted permission for a mother to use her deceased son’s sperm for surrogacy, signaling a possible shift but leaving the broader legal landscape unchanged.
For many families, this legal uncertainty compounds their grief. Critics argue that it raises deep ethical questions about consent, the welfare of children born under these circumstances, and religious prohibitions against desecrating the dead.
Some legal experts have proposed that soldiers should formally state their wishes regarding posthumous reproduction before beginning their service. This could clarify consent and reduce family disputes after their death.
Despite these challenges, Iris remains determined. She believes that bringing a grandchild into the world would affirm life and continuity after the horrors of October 7. “Every mother whose child was killed wants to have something from that child, not just photos,” she said.
For Iris, the struggle is about more than personal loss. It is a way of asserting resilience and ensuring that life continues despite tragedy. “A disaster happened,” she acknowledged. “But it doesn’t control me.”