Israeli woman gives birth to soldier fiancé’s baby 19 months after his death in Gaza

Within 20 minutes of hearing that her fiance was killed fighting against Hamas in Gaza, Hadas Levy embarked on the near-impossible: seeking to retrieve the sperm of her beloved so she could fulfill their dream of having a family. 

The 35-year-old Levy gave birth to the miracle baby she conceived with fallen IDF reservist Netanel Silberg three months ago. She is withholding the infant’s name and image out of fear for his safety.

The young couple had their lives planned out – traveling the world, building a home together outside of Jerusalem, and having a big family. 

But Oct. 7, 2023 changed everything.

Silberg, a 33-year-old special forces commander who was “very shaken” by the surprise Hamas attack that left 1,200 dead and hundreds abducted, was determined to volunteer for combat during the ensuing Gaza ground invasion, despite Levy’s pleas.

“He decided he’s going in, no matter what,” she recalled, adding that he was even asked to use his skills in war-room logistics away from battle.

On Dec. 18, 2023, her devoted partner with big green eyes, who had already picked out the names of their future children, fell in battle in the northern part of the Gaza strip from a bullet to the chest.

Levy, a pediatrician in her 30s who had finally found the love of her life, was unsure she could go on.

“I can’t not have anything alive from him and move on,” she recalled thinking. “I needed something from him growing inside my belly. He’s the [rightful] father of my children and I want to be a mother, and if he’s not alive and I don’t have children, then I don’t want to keep living.”

She sprang into action. Within 12 hours, Silber’s sperm – which was not as viable as live sperm and had no motility – was successfully preserved. During a grueling 10-hour process at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital, a specialized team worked to revive dead sperm that had been deprived oxygen for hours. 

The genetic material wasn’t developed or ready to use and while a sample from a living donor typically contains millions of sperm cells, this harvest produced only nine viable cells. 

She then faced the labyrinthine Israeli legal system, which determines a partner’s legal and ethical right to use the sperm of a dead person, on top of significant medical hurdles including her own fertility treatments. 

Levy defied all odds, if there ever were any odds.

“The doctors didn’t want to give me percentages, because they really didn’t know,” she explained.

With support from the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization and a pro bono lawyer, Levy became pregnant by the first anniversary of Oct. 7. And then became the only partner of a fallen soldier to conceive the soldier’s child in Israel’s history.

“It’s a miracle,” she explained. “It’s science fiction.”

The organization that guided her journey told The Post that posthumous sperm extraction has now become standard IDF protocol. “There are currently more than 50 IDF widows who could theoretically become pregnant from their late partners,” according to Shlomi Nachumson, CEO of IDF Widows and Orphans Organization.

Levy hopes to give her son a sibling.

“Many of these young widows get immense comfort knowing that they can continue to bring their fallen partners’ light into the world, and we are proud to stand by their side for life.”

With six more embryos available for Levy to use, she dreams of a sibling for her son. 

In the meantime, the beaming mom rocks her 3-month-old angel to sleep every night in the family’s outdoor swing.

“I feel like he’s sitting up there and thinking how to make everything easier for me,” Levy said.

“There’s no doubt I did the right thing – for the three of us.”