Israel's National Insurance Institute Releases Grim Statistics Three Years After October 7th

Three years after the October 7th Hamas attacks, Israel's National Insurance Institute (Bituah Leumi) has released stark figures detailing the human and financial toll. The data reveals that 1,029 civilians were killed, including 63 children and teenagers, separate from security forces and emergency response teams. Additionally, the institute is processing claims for 87,286 victims of hostile acts, with 24 individuals having lost limbs.

Of the civilians murdered, 668 were men and 361 were women, including 88 foreign nationals. The children killed ranged in age from under 3 to 18. On the day of the attack alone, 778 civilians were killed, and 74,558 were recognized as victims of hostile acts. Throughout the subsequent war, an additional 252 deaths and 12,832 victims of hostile acts were recorded.

A significant portion of the reported figures concerns mental health impacts. The National Insurance Institute reports that 43,004 victims of hostile acts applied for disability recognition, with 40,407 already granted disability status. Of those recognized with disabilities, 34,878 were due to psychological trauma, 3,171 from physical injuries, and 2,355 from a combination of both.

The institute also reported the addition of 1,216 orphans, 300 widowed individuals, 1,204 parents joining the bereaved parents' circle, and 2,281 bereaved siblings since the war began. Regarding hostages, 216 civilian hostages were returned from Gaza, 154 alive and 62 deceased.

Financially, the National Insurance Institute disbursed over 800 million shekels in the last three months of 2023 to victims, bereaved families, and hostages. Payments in 2024 exceeded 2 billion shekels, with projections for 2025 surpassing 3.5 billion shekels. Further aid, including rehabilitation costs, housing grants, return grants, and work incentives, amounts to billions more, supporting hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals and affected workers.

Zvika Cohen, Acting Director General of the National Insurance Institute, stated that the institute has been operating in a complex reality, providing extensive support for war-related needs while continuing its regular services. He emphasized the dedication of the staff in providing assistance, treatment, rights, and rehabilitation, reaffirming a commitment to the public and Israeli society's resilience.