In a deeply unsettling turn of events, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have issued a controversial demand to the family of a fallen Christian soldier, insisting that they remove a cross from his gravestone or face the reburial of his remains.
The soldier, Staff Sergeant David Bogdanovsky, originally from Ukraine, was killed in Gaza last December by an anti-tank rocket. His family has expressed outrage over the military’s ultimatum, which they say is an affront to their son’s memory and religious identity.
In a letter from the Defense Ministry, officials stated, “By law, it is not permissible to place a cross or any other religious marker on a military headstone.” The ministry’s communication also referenced a ruling from the IDF’s chief rabbi, asserting that the presence of the cross compromises the sanctity of the Jewish cemetery where Bogdanovsky is interred.
Military officials have reportedly received complaints from other families whose loved ones are buried nearby, claiming that the cross “hurts their feelings and their ability to pray.”
This has raised significant questions about religious tolerance and the treatment of non-Jewish soldiers within Israel’s military framework.
Bogdanovsky’s mother shared her anguish with the media, recounting her visit to her son’s grave earlier this month, where she discovered his gravestone draped in black cloth. “I don’t have words to describe the humiliation I felt,” she lamented.
“I thought that my David, who gave his life to the country, who loved the country with all his heart… is no different than any of the other guys, and is not a second-class citizen. I stood there and cried with anger, frustration, and disbelief.”
In a heartfelt Facebook post, she emphasized that her son’s faith was an “integral part” of his identity and expressed disbelief at the treatment he received, noting that there are other graves adorned with crosses in the same cemetery.
Despite the traditional division of graveyards by religion in Israel, a special law permits the burial of non-Jewish service members alongside their Jewish counterparts in military cemeteries. The current situation has ignited a broader conversation about religious diversity and respect for all service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
The backdrop of this controversy is Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza, which was launched in response to a deadly incursion by Hamas militants in October 2023. The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with nearly 42,000 reported dead in Gaza due to heavy Israeli bombardment and ground offensives.
