At the request of families, wives or partners, semen samples of 39 men have been extracted since the war in Gaza. The Knesset Health Committee has discussed the issue and plans to prepare for the first reading of the Semen-Extraction Law. The law, unique in the world, addresses important and sensitive issues related to the bereaved families. However, there is a lack of clarity in the definition of a “permanent partner.” There is also a need to balance the position of the spouse or partner with that of the parents in case of a disagreement. The proposed law has raised concerns about giving complete control to the spouse or partner over the process without the deceased’s parents having a say in it. It has been suggested that every soldier signs a will regarding the decision of semen extraction to avoid potential conflicts. The IDF has been criticized for not adequately informing the families about the possibility of semen extraction and even discouraging them from pursuing it.
