About Us and the Project
The "Gal-Had" project was born out of the need to bring the stories of IDF and security forces fallen during the "Iron Swords" war that broke out on October 7, 2023. Each fallen soldier is a world unto themselves, with faces, names, and entire lives that did not return from battle. The heroes who fell left behind parents, siblings, family members, friends, and comrades in arms, whose lives changed forever. The goal is to commemorate them so that their stories will always remain with us. Behind the initiative are media, memorial, and security organizations working together to establish a single digital home where every story will receive its rightful place. The site is built in collaboration between Ynet, Yad Labanim, and FIDF (Friends of the IDF in the USA), aiming to create an accessible and moving space that allows the public to recognize, remember, and share. This is not just an online memorial, but an ongoing journey of memory, connection, and humanity.
Each one is a world unto themselves
To read and write farewell messages - click on the pictures
Project Partners
FIDF – Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
Non-profit organization – Support for IDF soldiers and the families of the fallen
The FIDF, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, has supported IDF soldiers, their families and the fallen for more than four decades. Operating in Israel and the United States, the organization provides educational, emotional and social support to active-duty soldiers and bereaved families, while strengthening the bond between Israeli society and those who defend it. As part of the Gal-Hed project, FIDF helped develop the digital infrastructure and make memorial archives accessible to the wider public. Its contribution helped connect personal and national remembrance, creating a hub of commemoration, connection and humanity.
FIDF site
Yad Labanim
State organization – commemorating the fallen soldiers of Israel and supporting bereaved families
A state organization dedicated to commemorating Israel’s fallen and supporting bereaved families
Yad LaBanim is the representative organization of families of Israel’s fallen soldiers, dedicated to commemorating those who were killed, preserve their legacy and support bereaved families. The organization’s story is intertwined with that of the State of Israel from its earliest days to the present, forming an integral part of the nation’s shared memory.
Today, Yad LaBanim operates in about 65 branches and communities across the country, serving as a communal and national house of remembrance for bereaved families and the wider public. The “Gal-Hed” initiative seeks to ensure that every fallen hero is given a rightful and dignified place at the heart of Israel’s collective memory. Through personal, filmed documentation, the project aims to preserve their stories, their identities and the legacy they left behind.
Yad Labanim site
Ynet, ynet Global and the Yedioth Ahronoth Group
A leading Israeli news and opinion platform
Ynet and ynet Global are the digital news portals of the Yedioth Ahronoth Group and one of the primary news sources in Israel and the Jewish world. The sites deliver real-time updates, in-depth reporting, documentation and interviews, with a commitment to accuracy and human sensitivity.
As part of the Gal-Hed project, Ynet and ynet Global provided the digital platform along with production and design support, helping make the memorial site accessible to all. Its contribution enabled the stories of the fallen to reach a wide audience, connecting media, memory and society.
Ynet site