Former lone soldier Joshua Boone to be buried in civilian ceremony as loved ones seek IDF recognition

Friends and family of Joshua Boone, a US-born former lone soldier who was found dead earlier this week, announce that a civilian funeral will be held today at 2:30 p.m. at the New Be’er Sheva Cemetery.

In recent days, Boone’s loved ones have been campaigning for him to be recognized as a fallen soldier and receive a military burial, even though he was not on active duty at the time of his death.

The IDF said Monday that it “appears that the circumstances [of Boone’s death] may be connected” to his military service, though the cause of his death has yet to be determined.

Under Israeli policy, any soldier who dies while on active duty is automatically recognized as a fallen soldier and receives a military burial, while those who die off duty – even if their death is directly linked to their military service – are not granted that status.

“Josh gave hundreds of days of his life to defending Israel. He lived as a warrior, served as a warrior, and will be buried as one, even if the official bodies have failed to grant him the recognition he deserves,” Boone’s loved ones say in a statement posted on social media.

“Even as funeral times have been set, this miscarriage of justice is not over. The fight for Josh’s recognition will continue, before, during, and long after his burial,” the statement adds.

The funeral will be available to view via a livestream.