Same-sex partners of fallen soldiers are now recognized as IDF widow/ers

Same-sex partners of fallen IDF soldiers will now be recognized as IDF widows and widowers after the Families of Fallen Soldiers Law was amended on Monday.

Previously, the law defined an IDF widow specifically as a woman who had been married to or "known in public" with a man who was killed in combat and a widower specifically as a man who had been married to or "known in public" with a woman who had been killed in combat.

"Known in public" is a status given to couples in Israel who got married in a ceremony that is not considered legal. This status gives them similar benefits and rights to a legally married couple.

The new amendment to the law now defines an IDF widow or widower as a person whose spouse or partner was killed in combat and does not specify genders.

In past years, defense ministers made the decision to recognize same-sex couples, as Yoav Gallant did in this war, but the new amendment takes the choice away and legally requires them to do so.

Change sparred by IDF reservist's tragic death on October 7

The need for the amendment was brought into the spotlight at the beginning of the Swords of Iron war after the death in battle of reservist Sagi Golan. Golan was killed trying to rescue people from Kibbutz Be'eri, which was hit badly in Hamas's attack on October 7.

Golan had only been six days away from marrying his fiance Omer Ohana, and the law's classification would not have recognized Ohana as a widower. He had also not been allowed to mourn Golan as his partner, being told that he could not rip his shirt at the Shiva as spouses do when mourning each other.

Yesh Atid MK Merav Ben-Ari spoke about Ohana and Golan in Knesset on Monday when the amendment was voted on. Ohana attended the vote, and Ben-Ari spoke directly to him, telling him that he had touched her heart and shown her that there was a lot to fix in this regard.

"It's been a month without Sagi," Ohana said on Tuesday. "It feels like it was only yesterday. Time doesn't really pass, and the days mix together. I need to get used to learning about myself anew, but now there is a feeling of meaningfulness after what happened in the Knesset yesterday. There's also a feeling of justice, which was one of the strongest things that led Sagi when he was alive."