Why Israel goes to extraordinary lengths to retrieve its soldiers

On March 7, 2026, an Israeli landing operation in the town of Nabi Chit in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley may have been linked to efforts to locate the remains of Ron Arad, an Israeli air force navigator who disappeared in 1986. Although the details surrounding the operation remain unclear, the mere possibility that Israel would conduct a mission decades after a soldier’s disappearance illustrates a defining feature of Israeli military culture: the determination to retrieve its soldiers at almost any cost.

For nearly four decades, the case of Ron Arad has remained one of the most enduring and sensitive files in Israeli national memory. Yet his story is not only about one missing airman. It reflects a broader principle that has shaped Israeli military doctrine and public expectations. Whether through intelligence operations, prisoner exchanges, or dangerous recovery missions, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to bringing soldiers home, whether alive, captured, or deceased.

This determination is rooted in a combination of religious tradition, military ethics, societal expectations, and political culture. Together, these elements form what scholars often describe as Israel’s “no soldier left behind” ethos, a norm that lies at the heart of the relationship between the Israeli military and society.

Kavod Hamet  

One important source of this ethos lies in Jewish religious tradition and Jewish law. The Halakha is a collective body of Jewish religious laws that includes 613 commandments covering every aspect of daily life and places great emphasis on the dignity of the dead and the obligation to bury human remains with respect and care. Within the Halakha, Kavod Hamet is the concept of honoring the deceased and requires that bodies not be left exposed or abandoned. This is accomplished via prompt burials, or Halanat HaMet, and should occur as soon as possible in a dignified manner.

These principles have influenced the structure and practices of the Israeli military. Within the IDF, the Israeli Military Rabbinate plays an important role in ensuring that fallen soldiers receive proper religious burial. Specialized units are tasked with identifying remains and recovering bodies from battlefields whenever possible. In some cases, teams carefully collect even small fragments of remains so that burial can take place according to religious requirements.

No soldier left behind

Beyond religious tradition, the commitment to retrieving soldiers is embedded in the framework guiding the Israeli military. The IDF’s official code of ethics, known as “The Spirit of the IDF” (Ruach Tzahal), outlines the values expected of soldiers and commanders. Developed in the 1990s with the involvement of philosopher Asa Kasher, the doctrine emphasizes principles such as responsibility toward fellow soldiers and mutual loyalty within military units.

Within this framework, the idea that soldiers should never be abandoned has become a central norm. This commitment reinforces solidarity among soldiers and strengthens the sense that the military takes responsibility for those who serve within its ranks.

The social contract of conscription

Israel’s system of universal conscription further amplifies the importance of this principle. Most Israeli citizens serve in the military during early adulthood, tying the military to the entire society. Nearly every family has a direct connection to the military through children, siblings, or relatives who have served.

In this context, the commitment to bring soldiers home becomes part of a broader social contract between the state and its citizens. The government asks young men and women to risk their lives, and in return it promises that their lives, and even their deaths, will be treated with dignity and respect.

This assurance plays an important role in sustaining public support for military service. Soldiers and their families understand that if the worst were to happen, the state would make every effort to recover their bodies and ensure that their memory is honored.

The Elie Cohen case

Recent developments regarding the case of Israeli spy Eli Cohen case mirror that of Ron Arad. Cohen was executed by Syria in 1965, and for decades his remains were unreturned. Following the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024, the new Syrian leadership reportedly engaged in quiet backchannel negotiations with Israel, offering to return Cohen’s remains as a gesture of goodwill.

In May 2025, the Israeli Mossad recovered approximately 2,500 of Cohen’s personal items, including documents and photographs, returned as part of confidence-building measures. Negotiations over the actual transfer of his remains are ongoing, 61 years after his execution.

Political pressure and public mobilization

Another important factor explaining Israel’s determination to retrieve its soldiers is the powerful role played by families of missing or captured soldiers. In Israeli political culture, these families often command significant moral authority and can mobilize public opinion to pressure governments into acting.

Over the years, public campaigns led by families have pushed Israeli leaders to pursue negotiations and prisoner exchanges aimed at securing the return of soldiers. One of the most prominent examples involved Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured in 2006 by Hamas. After five years in captivity, Israel secured his release in 2011 in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners, including Yahya Sinwar himself.

The agreement sparked intense debate within Israel about the strategic costs of such exchanges, but it also underscored the commitment to bringing soldiers home.

Memory, mourning, and national identity

Finally, the cultural dimension of commemoration plays a crucial role in understanding this phenomenon. Israeli society has developed a strong national narrative around sacrifice and collective memory, particularly regarding soldiers who died defending the state.

This culture is most visible during Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s national Memorial Day for fallen soldiers. On this day, sirens sound across the country and citizens pause to stand in silence in remembrance of those who died. Military cemeteries become central sites of mourning, where families and officials gather to honor the fallen.

Within this framework, bringing soldiers home holds deep symbolic importance. Burial allows families to grieve and ensures that fallen soldiers are integrated into the national narrative of sacrifice and remembrance. Without a body to bury, the mourning process can remain incomplete.

A defining feature of Israeli military culture

Because Israel relies heavily on conscription, public trust in the armed forces is essential for ensuring that young men and women are willing to serve and accept the risks associated with combat. The widely understood commitment of the Israel Defense Forces to bring every soldier home, whether alive or dead, reinforces the perception that the state values the lives and dignity of its service members. It signals to soldiers and their families that, if they fall in battle, their bodies will be recovered, and their memories respected and safeguarded. For many families, this commitment provides reassurance that their children will not be abandoned on the battlefield and reinforces devotion to the cause of defending Israel and the Jewish people. As a result, the doctrine strengthens the social contract between the military and society, making it easier to recruit new generations into the armed forces. At the same time, it bolsters the domestic legitimacy of the military institution by portraying it as an organization that assumes lasting moral responsibility for those who serve within its ranks.

Cases like that of Ron Arad continue to resonate because they represent not only a missing soldier but also an unresolved obligation in the eyes of the Israeli military and society.