Israel’s Health Ministry Easing Process for Retrieving Sperm From Fallen Soldiers or Civilians

Israel's health ministry is reportedly making it easier to retrieve the sperm of fallen soldiers and civilians before they are buried, with usual legal barriers removed.

The rules around posthumous sperm retrieval were updated by the Israeli government on Tuesday, but not officially announced.

The process allows the retrieval and cryopreservation - or freezing - of a deceased person's sperm to then use it in the future. Specialists have to test testicular tissue to make sure it is viable and can be stored.

Normally, the process is open to the spouse of a fallen soldier or civilian without the need for permission from a court, unless other immediate family objects. Parents usually have to go through a family court to achieve this.

In this latest update, that restriction has been lifted until at least November 30 as the war between Israel and Hamas rages on.

These restrictions were lifted "on the condition that they assume that filing a request with a family court may render it impossible to retrieve sperm in light of the time passed since the moment of death," the government website read. "Except in cases where the deceased's spouse or any other family member objects to the posthumous sperm retrieval, or in case of disagreement between the parents."

Doctors only have a short timeframe if the procedure is to be successful. The sperm is more likely to survive and be effective if it is retrieved within 24 hours of the man dying. There are no cases of a successful retrieval past 72 hours, the Israeli health ministry said.

The ministry has set up a 24/7 unit to deal with the number of requests and is working with four hospitals with sperm banks to notify families that they have this option.

Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday that 349 of its soldiers had fallen so far in the conflict, sparked by Hamas' attacks on October 7 which killed at least 1,400 people.