Bereaved parents urge IDF to recognize their children's heroism on Oct. 7: 'It's dissolving'

Bereaved parents whose children fell on October 7 and in the Swords of Iron War are furious at the IDF for not yet awarding medals of valor and citations to the war's fallen. In an interview with Kan News, Ran Golan and Yaniv Harush spoke of their frustration and fear that the issue will be dropped. The IDF spokesperson said the process was postponed due to Operation Roar of the Lion and the maneuver in southern Lebanon, and has resumed these days. Defense Minister Katz ordered a committee on the matter.

Bereaved parents whose children fell on October 7 and in the Swords of Iron War are furious at the IDF, which has not yet awarded medals of valor and citations to the war's fallen. In an interview with the program "In the Sixth Half Day" on Kan News on Reshet Bet, two of them, Ran Golan and Yaniv Harush, spoke today (Friday) about their frustration and their fear that the issue will be dropped under pressure from the political-security echelon to make the massacre events forgotten. Ran, father of Yoni Golan, who fell on October 7, said they initiated an appeal to commanders and to the lieutenant colonel who investigated the battles at the Nahal Oz outpost, and all said Yoni performed exceptional heroism and would be a candidate for the citation committee, but no one has spoken to them since. Yaniv, father of Ido Harush, who also fell on the day of the massacre, echoed the words and said Ido fought in shorts and flip-flops, went out to the gate to protect a female soldier in a hopeless heroic battle against 70 terrorists, and saved an entire base. He stressed that this is his life's mission. The IDF spokesperson said the process of awarding medals and citations was supposed to begin about five months ago, but was postponed due to Operation Roar of the Lion and the ground maneuver in southern Lebanon. The process has resumed these days but will not be completed before the third anniversary of the massacre. The Defense Minister's office said Minister Katz ordered the IDF to establish a committee on the matter. The Prime Minister's office gave no response.