Israel Releases Grim Casualty Figures Ahead of Third Anniversary of October 7 Attacks

As Israel approaches the third anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks and the subsequent war, the Ministry of Defense and National Insurance Institute have released updated figures on casualties and bereaved families. According to the Ministry of Defense, 1,318 members of Israel's security forces have fallen since October 7, 2023. This number includes 1,153 from the IDF, 116 from the police, nine from the Shin Bet, and others from emergency services and prison services. Additionally, 24 disabled individuals who had been injured due to the war have since passed away. The number of bereaved family members has grown to over 7,150, encompassing parents, widows, orphans, and siblings.

Concurrently, the National Insurance Institute reported that 1,029 civilians were murdered in acts of terror since October 7. Among these victims were 668 men, 361 women, and 88 foreign nationals. The report details that 63 of the murdered civilians were children and teenagers under 18. The institute also stated that 87,286 civilians have been recognized as victims of hostile acts, with a significant portion suffering from psychological trauma. On the day of the attacks alone, 778 civilians were killed and 74,558 were recognized as victims of hostile acts. Throughout the war, an additional 252 civilians have been murdered and 12,832 more have been recognized as victims.

The National Insurance Institute has disbursed approximately 662 million shekels in grants to over 83,500 civilians affected by the October 7th events. Further financial assistance, totaling over 5 billion shekels for housing and 1.4 billion shekels for return grants, has been provided to displaced residents from the north and south. The Ministry of Defense has also expanded memorialization efforts, emotional support, and financial aid for bereaved families, including enhancements to cemeteries and specialized programs for orphans and widows.