Israel Marks Grim Toll of War Three Years After October 7

New data released by Israel's Ministry of Defense and National Insurance Institute reveal the profound human cost of the ongoing conflict, three years after the October 7th attacks. Since the start of the "War of Return," an additional 1,318 members of Israel's security forces have been killed. The figures also show tens of thousands of civilians recognized as victims of hostile acts and hundreds of new bereaved families.

According to the Ministry of Defense, among the 1,318 fallen security personnel, 1,153 were from the IDF, including 43 members of civilian emergency response teams. Additionally, 116 police officers, nine Shin Bet agents, five firefighters, and 11 prison service officers lost their lives. Another 24 disabled veterans died due to war-related disabilities.

The civilian toll is extensive. The National Insurance Institute reports that prior to the war, 16,044 victims of hostile acts were recognized. Since October 7th, an additional 87,286 individuals have been added to their caseload, with 43,004 filing for disability claims. Of these, 34,878 were granted disability based on psychological trauma, 3,171 on physical injury, and 2,355 on both.

The circle of civilian bereavement has also widened significantly. The number of recognized bereaved parents has risen from 1,195 before the war to 2,399. Furthermore, 2,281 siblings have joined the bereaved families, alongside 706 civilian and military widows and widowers. Tragically, 48 women were widowed during pregnancy. The data indicates that 2,227 children are now orphans, including 345 minors.

Between October 7th and the present, 1,029 civilians were murdered in terror attacks, excluding security forces and emergency responders. Of these, 88 were foreign nationals and 63 were children and teenagers under 18. A total of 778 civilians were killed on October 7th itself, with an additional 252 murdered during the subsequent war. The National Insurance Institute has distributed approximately 662 million shekels in assistance grants to 83,563 eligible recipients, including residents of the Gaza envelope communities, those in combat zones, and participants in southern festivals. The Ministry of Defense has expanded welfare, financial support, and emotional counseling services for bereaved families, establishing dedicated programs for orphans, widows, siblings, and families of hostages and missing persons. The ministry also noted efforts in bringing fallen soldiers for burial, expanding cemeteries, and establishing new military plots.

Aryeh Moalem, Deputy Director General and Head of the Families, Commemoration, and Heritage Division at the Ministry of Defense, stated that the state has a "moral obligation to those who gave their lives for it" and emphasized the ongoing commitment to bereaved families. He assured that the division would continue to support these families for years to come. The figures collectively paint a stark picture of the human price paid since October 7th, encompassing thousands of fallen soldiers and their families, over 87,000 recognized victims of hostile acts, and more than a thousand civilians murdered in terror attacks. The long-term struggle of victims, families, and communities is expected to continue long after the war's conclusion.