Israeli Ministry calls for removal of cross from Christian IDF soldier’s headstone

The family of Staff Sgt. David Bogdanovskyi, a Christian Israeli Defese Forces (IDF) soldier killed in December 2023 during invasion of Gaza, has been told to remove the cross from his headstone at Haifa’s military cemetery or face relocating his remains outside the cemetery.

The Defence Ministry cited regulations that standardize military grave markers in Israel and prohibit religious symbols, including crosses, from appearing on headstones.

According to the ministry, the decision was reinforced by complaints from Jewish families with relatives buried nearby, who argued the cross disrupted their ability to pray and recite the Kaddish mourning prayer.

Bogdanovskyi, originally from Ukraine, immigrated to Israel in 2014, serving in the Combat Engineering Corps before his death in Gaza’s Khan Younis area.

His mother shared her son’s devotion to Israel and insisted that the cross on his headstone reflected his personal faith.

“David loved Israel from the bottom of his heart,” she wrote on social media, adding that she was "humiliated" after visiting his grave and finding the headstone covered with a black cloth during a ceremony on October 7.

The Defence Ministry stated it had been working with the family to find a resolution and emphasised a preference for a compromise that would respect the sensitivities of all those with loved ones buried in the cemetery.

The decision was supported by the Chief IDF Rabbi, who deemed the cross as potentially harmful to the cemetery’s sanctity.

Despite the regulations, Bogdanovskyi’s family has pointed to other military graves in Israel that bear Christian symbols and are challenging the enforcement of this rule specifically on David’s headstone.

This dispute highlights the broader tension over religious symbols in public spaces in Israel, where issues such as marriage, burial, and identity are legally governed by religious authorities.

However, since 2013, the Israeli government has allowed non-Jewish IDF soldiers to be buried in military cemeteries.

The Defense Ministry’s position highlights the continued influence of religious standards in state policies.

Though Israel’s 2013 law allows non-Jewish soldiers to be buried in military cemeteries, marking graves with distinct religious symbols like a cross remains contested.

Recently, Iran’s air force reports intercepting missiles launched by Israel, aimed at military sites in Tehran, Khuzestan, and Ilam provinces.

The state news agency, IRNA, noted that Tehran's airports were unaffected, though local airspace saw swift defensive action.

Saudi Arabia condemned Israel’s actions, calling them a violation of Iran's sovereignty and urging regional de-escalation to avoid further instability.

As discussions with Bogdanovskyi’s family continue, the Defense Ministryn looks towards a resolution.

This case has garnered attention among advocates for religious freedom and pluralism, who argue for more inclusive policies that respect the religious identities of all soldiers who serve Israel.