The IDF is moving forward with preparations to formally recognize the heroes of the fighting: the army is launching a comprehensive process to review and award citations and decorations for acts of courage and sacrifice in the October 7, 2023 battles in the Gaza envelope.
The process will be formally launched at a special commanders' conference on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, led by the head of the Manpower Directorate (Aka), Aluf Dudu Bar-Kalifa, and the president of the Military Court of Appeals, Alufa Orly Markman. Commanders from all IDF brigades and sectors will participate, and the full framework for reviewing acts of heroism will be presented.
The IDF emphasizes that the purpose of the initiative is to give proper recognition to the extraordinary acts of courage performed during the difficult battles, and to preserve and pass on the legacy of the fighting to future generations. The entire process will be conducted with attention to detail, factual precision, transparency and maximum sensitivity. As part of this sensitivity, the bereaved families unit informed all bereaved families in advance about the process, its purposes and its significance.
Alongside the heroism of security forces personnel, extraordinary civilian acts of courage also stood out in the October 7 battles. As part of the process, appropriate cases of civilians who acted in an exceptional manner will be referred for review by the advisory committee to the President of the State. These will be examined according to the existing mechanism for awarding the "President's Award for Civilian Courage."
An IDF spokesperson stated that the army views the recognition of acts of heroism and commemoration as an inseparable part of its moral obligation toward its soldiers, its fallen and their families.
