On June 11, Hadas Levy became the first woman in Israel to give birth to a son conceived with sperm retrieved from her late fiancé, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reservist who was killed in the war with Hamas.
Levy’s fiancé, Capt. (res.) Netanel Silberg, died in Gaza on December 18, 2023. The couple had planned to marry and build a family, but his death upended those plans. Within 12 hours of his passing, Levy acted to preserve his sperm, a procedure that yielded nine viable (though non-motile) cells. Medical and legal challenges followed, but she eventually became pregnant using one embryo.
The journey drew public attention and raised ethical, religious, and legal questions. Israeli law restricts posthumous reproduction, and decisions of this type often require court consents or special permissions. The IDF Widows and Orphans Organization provided legal support, and Levy’s case may establish precedent for other war widows seeking to preserve their late partners’ legacy through children.
Levy described the process as both mourning and hope: honoring her fiancé’s memory by continuing his genetic line. She has embryos remaining that could be used for a future sibling.
