Following the suicide of an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reservist, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir plans to consider advancing legislation that would grant military authorities the power to recognize reservists who die outside of their service as fallen soldiers, according to The Times of Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces said it shares the deep sorrow of the Wasserstein family over the tragic death of Roy Wasserstein, a 24-year-old military medic reservist who served in the 401st Armored Brigade during the fighting in Gaza.

Wasserstein completed his last reserve duty in May and was not on duty when he died yesterday, presumably by suicide. “According to the law, a fallen IDF soldier is defined as someone who died while serving in regular service or active reserve duty, and therefore he is not officially recognized as a fallen IDF soldier,” the army said.

The IDF informed Wasserstein's family that he did not meet the criteria for recognition as a combat casualty.

"However, in light of the circumstances of the case, the Chief of the General Staff has instructed that the possibility of enacting legislation be explored that would grant the Israel Defense Forces the authority to recognize, in exceptional cases, a reserve soldier who died outside of military service as a fallen soldier of the Israel Defense Forces if there is a direct link between the death and military service," the IDF statement said.

Although the Israel Defense Forces cannot directly promote legislation, it can send representatives to the relevant Knesset committees to present its agenda.

Wasserstein will be buried in a civilian ceremony. The military says that in light of his service in the army, “and in honor of his memory, the Israel Defense Forces has offered the family that the funeral be held in the presence of his comrades from the brigade in which Roy served” and that his commander lay a wreath.