The Supreme Court ruled Sunday that the IDF's decision not to recognize Alon Shamriz as a fallen soldier and not to transfer him to military burial does not exceed legal boundaries, according to N13. The court acknowledged the family's pain but said it could not grant the petition. Yonatan Shmeriz, the brother of the fallen soldier, called the decision 'spitting in the face of the family' and accused the Defense Minister and IDF personnel chief of political delay.
The Supreme Court on Sunday rejected the Shmeriz family's petition to recognize Alon Shamriz as a fallen IDF soldier, upholding the military's decision not to grant him a military burial. The court acknowledged the family's pain but said it could not intervene. Yonatan Shmeriz, the brother, called the ruling 'spitting in the face' and accused Defense Minister Israel Katz and the Head of the Manpower Directorate of political delay.
Alon Shamriz was abducted by Hamas from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023, and was killed by IDF fire in December 2023 in Shujaiya alongside two other hostages after they escaped their captors, as The Zioneer has reported. The family argued he was a reservist who enlisted on the day of the attack. The court's decision was published around 12:53 PM Jerusalem time, followed by the brother's reaction.
The Zioneer has previously reported on the case, including the circumstances of Shamriz's death and the family's campaign for recognition. The court emphasized its ruling was purely legal.
The family has not indicated whether they will pursue further legal avenues. The case remains a subject of public debate.
5 developments
- DevelopingMK Dan Iluz calls bill freezing Haredi draft evader arrests 'a spit in the face'
- DevelopingNoam Amir: 'The shame is over' — slams treatment of fighters as 'spit in the face of nation'
- StrongChabad soldier says religious family harassed at Jerusalem pizza shop
- DevelopingDr. Avishai Ben Chaim: 'Must bow head before High Court'; Yinon Magal responds: 'If you accept court ruling against law, you are deterred'
Source and signal
- Open-source intake