Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS

IDF, Defense Ministry to recognize civilian heroes of Oct. 7

The new measures include military honors and memorial plaques.

Bomb Shelter, Oct. 7 Remembrance
A public bomb shelter where Israelis were murdered at the Oct. 7 massacre one year ago, on a road near the Israeli-Gaza border in southern Israel, Sept. 19, 2024. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.

The Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Defense Ministry, working alongside the National Insurance Institute, announced plans on Wednesday to formally acknowledge civilians’ courage during the Hamas invasion of Oct. 7, 2025.

According to the announcement, the recognition will extend to individuals who actively defended others during the assault, civilians who were held hostage and killed in Gaza, and members of the security forces who were off duty but lost their lives in related terror incidents during the conflict.

As part of the tribute, military personnel will be present at the funerals of these individuals, and their gravestones will be allowed to feature a special plaque with the national symbol, acknowledging their exceptional status.

See more from JNS Staff
Sgt. Netanel Ayala, 20, from the southern Samaria community of Ofra, was killed on May 3.
Staff Sgt. A., an immigrant from Los Angeles, shares his remarkable journey to the IDF’s Hashmonaim Brigade in Lebanon.
Capt. Maoz Israel Recanati, from Itamar in Samaria, was set to get married in a month.
The Israeli performer overcame boos and boycotts to deliver a crowd-pleasing performance of “Michelle” in Vienna.
With Russia’s role in Syria diminished, analysts question the value of strategic ambiguity.
Many reservists were called up in the middle of the night for the surprise exercise, part of the military’s post-Oct. 7 testing of readiness.