IDF reservists who took own life after fighting in Gaza gets military burial

IDF reservist Eliran Mizrachi, who took his own life following months of fighting in Gaza, received a military burial on Thursday following heavy campaigning by his family.

The decision was made after consultations with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.

Military representatives informed Mizrachi's family that he would be recognized as an IDF soldier and brought to a military burial.

Mizrachi was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and took his own life last week after receiving a re-conscription order (Tzav 8).

His sister Hila told Channel 13 that he wouldn't have killed himself if not for the PTSD, "I think that the respect he deserves is to be buried in a coffin with an Israeli flag on it and for soldiers to salute him."

"I want to tell all the soldiers that no matter what, they won’t be abandoned and that my brother will not be abandoned. He doesn’t deserve that," she said.

IDF initially blocked the burial

The military initially said that because Mizrachi was not a soldier nor on active reserve duty, he was ineligible for a military burial.

Following an investigation by the IDF, they concluded that the meetings Mizrachi had on the day he took his life were preparatory meetings for re-entry into active service and not social meetings as initially described.

Military officials had originally concluded that the meetings constituted part of his entry into active service and thus qualified him for military burial.

The Prime Minister's Office announced that they had helped to bring about the new conclusion under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.