Israeli Woman – In a remarkable medical case, a 35-year-old Israeli woman, Dr. Hadas Levy, has given birth to a baby boy nearly a year and a half after her partner’s death. While it may seem astonishing, this is a true story made possible by advanced reproductive technology.
On June 11, 2025, Dr. Hadas Levy gave birth to a son. The baby is the child of her fiancé, Captain Natanel Silberg, who was killed in Gaza in December 2023. The child was conceived using Postmortem Sperm Retrieval (PSR) technology.
What is Postmortem Sperm Retrieval (PSR)?
PSR is a procedure where sperm is extracted from a deceased male’s body and stored for future use. The partner can use this sperm to conceive at any point in her life.
The process involves:
- Extraction: A doctor typically uses a needle to extract sperm-containing fluid from the testicles.
- Testing & Storage: The sperm is tested, and viable specimens are frozen and stored.
- Conception: Finally, the sperm is used for conception through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
Crucial Timeframe: Sperm must be retrieved from the deceased within 24 to 36 hours of death. After this window, sperm viability decreases by approximately 2% every hour, making prompt action essential.
The Context in Israel
Following the Hamas attacks, sperm was retrieved and stored from 250 deceased Israeli soldiers. Of these, the parents of 193 soldiers requested the procedure. Sperm was also retrieved from 21 civilians.
Is Sperm Retrieval Legal?
The legality of PSR varies by country:
- In Israel: Before the war, court approval was required for PSR. However, the procedure was temporarily simplified to save time in the aftermath of the conflict.
- In India: PSR is legal, but it requires court approval. The court also demands evidence of the deceased’s prior consent, proving he wanted his sperm to be used after his death. Furthermore, India does not permit the use of a deceased unmarried man’s sperm.
