Gaza Genocide08 October, 20262 min read
IDF Launches Review To Honor Soldiers’ Heroism From Hamas-Led October 7 Onslaught
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IDF formally launches review of heroic acts from October 7 to determine honor recipients. Defense minister asks military chief to propose Medal of Valor recommendations; only 40 awarded.
IDF honor review begins
The IDF formally launched a review of soldiers’ heroism during the Hamas-led onslaught of October 7, 2023, to determine recipients of military commendations and decorations.
The IDF said, "The process aims to properly recognize the extraordinary acts of heroism carried out during the fighting and to preserve their legacy for future generations," and it notified bereaved families ahead of the launch.
Defense Minister Israel Katz asked Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir to recommend recipients of the Medal of Valor, the IDF’s highest honor.
The IDF said the review would be conducted "with close attention to detail and factual accuracy, as well as sensitivity and transparency," and it set a commanders’ conference for Wednesday next week.
The IDF said the Medal of Valor has been awarded only 40 times and none have been awarded since 1975.
Conference leadership and scope
The IDF said commanders conducting the review will hold a conference on Wednesday next week headed by Personnel Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa and Military Court of Appeals president Maj. Gen. Orly Markman.
ynetglobal said the IDF Casualties Directorate began notifying bereaved families on Thursday that the process was being launched, and it described the move as highly sensitive both inside and outside the military.
The IDF said the process would address acts of heroism by civilians during the October 7 battles, and it said cases involving exceptional civilian bravery deemed appropriate would be referred to an advisory committee to the president.
The IDF said, "Cases of exceptional civilian heroism will be referred to an advisory committee to President Isaac Herzog," and it tied that mechanism to recommending recipients of the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism.
The IDF said the precise timetable for presenting final candidates and awarding the honors remains unclear, and it said the committee’s work is not expected to be completed quickly.
War context and what follows
The Times of Israel said the Hamas-led onslaught saw thousands of terrorists storm southern Israel to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza. The Times of Israel said the IDF struggled to mount a response during the onslaught, with bases closest to the border overrun and the chain of command broken amid the chaos, according to the military’s own probes. The Times of Israel said the move could signify that the army considers the war, which began three years ago with the invasion and massacre in southern Israel, to be over, and it noted that historically the medals have been awarded after wars conclude.
ynetglobal said the launch follows months of public criticism over the prolonged delay in formally recognizing soldiers who fought in the battles to halt the Hamas assault, and it said several attempts over the past two years to begin the process had not advanced. The IDF said it repeatedly could not move forward until its in-depth operational investigations into the October 7 battles had been completed, and it said the process was delayed by the ground campaign in Lebanon and the fighting against Iran.