William to be buried in Israel, IDF: 'We will accompany his family in recognition as a casualty due to service'

The IDF will accompany the family of William Shakin, a lone soldier who died in the US, in the process of recognizing him as a 'casualty due to service' after a possible link was found between his death and his service. Shakin, 25, from New York, fought in Gaza and suffered from PTSD. The final decision will be made by the Ministry of Defense. His funeral will be held tomorrow in Jerusalem with military representatives present.

The IDF announced it will accompany the family of William Shakin, a 25-year-old lone soldier from New York, in the process of recognizing him as a 'casualty due to service', after an initial review found a possible link between his death and his military service. Shakin, who fought for long months in Gaza as part of Golani's 13th Battalion, took his own life in the US after struggling with PTSD. His family requested to bring him for burial in Israel at Mount Herzl and claimed that the state did not provide him with the support he needed. The IDF will offer military representation at the funeral, which will take place tomorrow in Jerusalem, and will accompany the family in appealing to the Ministry of Defense. The final decision on a causal link will be made by the Ministry of Defense, and if a link is established, the family will receive a monthly stipend. His friend Chaim Meizlish spoke of a letter Shakin left, and his girlfriend Elena described his mental struggle and his desire to establish an organization for lone soldiers. The IDF confirmed the review and the continuation of the process.

William to be buried in Israel, IDF: 'We will accompany his family in recognition as a casualty due to service'