Beersheba Family Court approves Iris Haim to use sperm of slain hostage son to have child
Iris Haim submitted the request several months ago – and argued that her son, Yotam Haim “considered bringing children into the world as the realization of an important personal dream.”
The Beersheba Family Court on Friday allowed Iris Haim to have a child using the sperm of her son, Yotam Haim, who was kidnapped by Hamas during the Oct. 7 massacre and mistakenly killed by IDF fire while trying to escape from captivity.
Iris submitted the request several months ago – and argued that Yotam “considered giving birth to children as the fulfillment of an important personal dream and, in the last years of his life, spoke openly about his strong desire to become a father” before his death.
It was also claimed that “even though one of his brothers previously stated that he did not want children, Yotam would tell his parents: ‘Don’t worry, I will bring you grandchildren.’ »
Iris further wrote in the application that “Yotam’s aspiration for parenthood was not merely theoretical, but a real and tangible desire that accompanied him and was expressed by him to his family members and loved ones. »
“Yotam expressed his desire to bring children into the world and for continuity not only in relation to his life but also in relation to the period after his death. »
Iris Haim speaks during a conference at Reichman University in Herzliya, January 22, 2026. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)
According to the family, “Yotam spoke about it with his father during the last year of his life and expressed his wish that even if he died, he wanted continuity through a child born from his sperm.”
Additional affidavits from witnesses, friends and family members were submitted to the court.
In the affidavit of one of Yotam’s friends, whom he defines as a “soulmate friend”, a message was presented in which Yotam wrote to her: “You will be the cool aunt of my children, whether you like it or not, my darling. »
According to her, she and Yotam agreed “that if each of them’s dream of starting a family did not come true, they would do it together through co-parenting.”
Yotam’s accidental death
Yotam Haim was killed in the Gaza shooting, in which an IDF force mistakenly identified three Israeli hostages as a threat. Israeli troops opened fire on them and they were killed.
The hostages who were mistakenly killed during the incident, alongside Yotam Haim, were Alon Shamriz, kidnapped in Kfar Aza, and Samer Talalka of Hura, kidnapped in Nir Am.
Last December, during the commemoration of her son Yotam, Iris said: “Yotam, beloved child, a child of purity and gold, of complete goodness. You came into the world through suffering and trials, you had a message to convey to the world: that through difficulties we can always continue and that life is beautiful.”
“You had dialogues with the angel of death, but you didn’t give up; even in captivity, you knew you would return home. I feel you all the time. As soon as you left, we received messages from people about how you influenced them. You are present in my life all the time,” Iris continued.
“I was always afraid that you would break – I didn’t really understand your strength; now I understand your immense power. There is not a day when you are not my central focus. In dreams you tell me that you are alive. The day you left, you left us a chance to have a grandchild – we hope that next year we will be here with a red-headed grandson. If I had one wish, it would be for you to return to me alive.”
