Israel Releases Casualty Figures Three Years After October 7

New figures released by Israel's Ministry of Defense and National Insurance Institute reveal the extensive human cost of the ongoing conflict, three years after the October 7th attacks. The data details casualties among both security forces and the civilian population.

Since the war began, an additional 1,318 members of Israel's security systems have been killed. Of these, 1,153 were from the IDF, including 43 members of emergency response teams. The police force lost 116 officers, the Shin Bet nine agents, the fire and rescue services five, and the prison service 11. Additionally, 24 disabled individuals died as a result of war-related injuries. The civilian toll is also significant, with 1,029 civilians murdered in terror attacks since October 7, excluding security forces and emergency teams. Of these civilian victims, 88 were foreign nationals and 63 were children and teenagers under 18. A total of 778 civilians were killed on October 7 itself, with an additional 252 killed during the subsequent war.

The number of bereaved families has also grown substantially. Over 7,150 family members have been recognized as bereaved, including 2,143 parents, 355 widows, 880 orphans, and 3,772 siblings. The National Insurance Institute reports that the number of recognized bereaved parents increased from 1,195 before the war to 2,399 currently. Furthermore, 2,281 siblings and 706 spouses (civilian and military) have joined the bereaved families circle. Notably, 48 women were widowed during pregnancy.

Beyond fatalities, the National Insurance Institute is managing a surge in individuals recognized as victims of hostile acts. Before the war, 16,044 such victims were registered. Since October 7, an additional 87,286 victims have been added to the institute's caseload. Of these new victims, 43,004 have applied for disability benefits, with disabilities determined as psychological for 34,878, physical for 3,171, and a combination of both for 2,355. Over 60 children under 18 are among these new victims.

The National Insurance Institute has disbursed approximately 662 million shekels in aid to 83,563 eligible individuals, including residents of Gaza border communities, those in combat zones, and participants at southern music festivals. Concurrently, the Ministry of Defense has expanded welfare, financial support, and emotional counseling services for bereaved families. The ministry has also been involved in facilitating burials, expanding cemeteries, and establishing new military plots. The commemoration unit has managed funerals across 282 cemeteries and military plots nationwide, and expanded over 30 existing sites.

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 supporting bereaved families. He affirmed that the division will continue to provide assistance and welfare to these families for years to come.