“No Wounded Soldier’s Mother Will Be Left Alone”: Her Son Was Critically Wounded in Gaza – and Michal Set Out on a Struggle

Michal Esban, mother of a soldier critically wounded in Gaza, founded the “Lioness Mother” forum uniting about 600 mothers of wounded soldiers. She speaks about the struggle to support mothers, the difficulties with the state, and the Mor-Yosef Committee recommendations approved in July 2026, which are not applied retroactively.

Michal Esban (58), a resident of Beit El and mother of eight, received a phone call two years ago that changed her life: her son Yotam, an armored corps soldier, was critically wounded in the head in Jabalia. He underwent hours of surgery, and there were fears he would remain in a vegetative state. During her time in hospitals, she noticed that in every room sat a weeping mother beside her wounded son, and she vowed to support mothers. She began distributing jewelry she had made, and with donations reached 250 mothers. Later, together with Orna Shapira, she founded the “Lioness Mother” forum, which unites about 600 mothers. The forum launched a struggle: “The state took our son to battle, but when he was wounded, it doesn’t see us.” Esban says she approached ministers and Knesset members to no avail, and for two years tried to speak with the Defense Minister. In June 2026, the Mor-Yosef Committee submitted recommendations for the rehabilitation of IDF wounded, and in July the government approved the recommendations and began implementing them. However, Esban criticizes the lack of retroactive application: “Anyone wounded before the cutoff date is not eligible. There is no logic here.” She dreams of establishing a “Home of the Warrior’s Mother” to support mothers.