Tel Aviv hospital manages to extract sperm from Hamas victim

The sperm of an Israeli young man killed by Hamas in southern Israel was extracted and preserved by the staff of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov).

Since the attacks began on October 7, dozens of families have approached the Health Ministry asking to collect the sperm of the young men killed.

Dr. Shimi Barda, the director of the Sperm Bank at Ichilov, said that while scientific literature holds that live sperm can be obtained by a dead body in the first 45 hours, the health authorities decided to extend the period to 72 hours.

However, the majority of the attempts have not failed, making the successful extraction at Ichilov even more unique.

Tragic circumstances

Barda explained that the extraction of sperm from a deceased person is always a tragic situation. However, when sudden deaths occur, such as in car accidents, terrorist attacks, or illnesses, there is a desire to leave behind a living memory of the loved one. In such cases, the referral typically comes from the woman or partner with whom the deceased had planned to have a child. 

In response to the situation, the Health Ministry established an emergency procedure that simplifies the request process for sperm preservation, eliminating the need for a court order. A coordinator was appointed to oversee this matter on behalf of the families.