On June 11, Hadas Levy became the first woman to give birth to a child fathered by a soldier killed in Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, sparked by the Oct. 7 massacre that claimed 1,200 lives.

Capt. (res.) Netanel Silberg, Levy’s fiancé, was killed in combat in Gaza in December 2023. The couple met on a blind date arranged by friends in May 2022.

“He was very handsome. He came to pick me up and waited for me outside his car, like a man from another era. He was tall — about 1.80 meters (approximately 5 feet, 11 inches) — well-built, and when he removed his glasses, he had the most beautiful green eyes. He was the whole package,” Levy told Fox News Digital.

Levy described the challenges of navigating her pregnancy without her partner. She said she had to take every test alone and explain his absence whenever asked about the father. With Netanel deceased, she was unable to undergo genetic screenings and often had to rely on his mother for information about his family.

In June, Levy gave birth to her son via C-section at Hadassah University Hospital on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, where she had also undergone insemination accompanied by Dr. Efrat Esh-Broder from the IVF unit.

“I love him because he is who he is, not because he is his father’s son. I didn’t call him Netanel. He is not a gravestone,” she told Fox News Digital.

Hadas Levy’s infant son sleeps beside her in an undated photo. (Neta Levy)

Three months later, her son has his father’s nose and ears. Levy said Silberg would have been upset, as he never liked his own features.

“We look at pictures of Netanel already. He needs to be proud of his dad, his dad’s story is one of bravery. He needs to know he has a dad and a family,” she said.

Levy is frequently approached by women seeking guidance on the process. In addition to her, around six other IDF widows are pursuing parenthood using sperm retrieved from their deceased husbands.

The IDF Widows and Orphans Organization (IDFWO) offers comprehensive support throughout the process, helping families navigate emotional, legal, and medical challenges.

“You must want the child for the child and not for his father who was killed. It’s something that is forgotten sometimes. The child can’t only be his father’s son, it’s not fair. To the girls who want to do it, I say do it. It’s continuity, it’s life and it’s amazing,” Levy said.