Israel Releases Grim Toll Three Years After Hamas Attack

As the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack approaches, Israeli authorities have released comprehensive figures detailing the human and economic impact of the assault and the subsequent war. "Bituah Leumi" (National Insurance Institute) and the Ministry of Defense reported that 1,029 civilians were killed in terror attacks since October 7, 2023, with 778 of those deaths occurring on the day of the initial attack. Among the deceased civilians were 668 men, 361 women, 88 foreign nationals, and 63 children and teenagers under 18, including six who were three years old or younger.

The number of individuals officially recognized as victims of hostile acts has reached 87,286. While most of these victims were in the areas attacked on October 7, others were injured during the ongoing war, including operations against Iran. The statistics highlight a significant rise in disability claims, with 43,004 people applying for disability status. Decisions have been made for 40,407 of these cases, with 34,878 individuals recognized as disabled due to psychological trauma, 3,171 due to physical injuries, and 2,355 due to both. Over 80% of disability cases are linked to psychological consequences.

The Ministry of Defense reported that 1,318 individuals are classified as fallen in Israel's wars since October 7, 2023. This figure includes 1,153 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers, 116 police officers, nine Shin Bet agents, five firefighters, and 11 prison service employees. The civilian toll also includes 1,216 orphans and 300 individuals who were widowed, with 1204 parents losing children and 2,281 losing siblings.

The financial cost of the conflict is substantial. "Bituah Leumi" figures, reported by "Calcalist," indicate that over 9 billion shekels have been allocated to victims, bereaved families, and hostages and their families over the three-year period. Payments to reservists have reached approximately 58 billion shekels, and programs for workers on unpaid leave have cost an additional 4.2 billion shekels. Over 5 billion shekels were provided to approximately 190,000 evacuated individuals who found their own housing.

The Bank of Israel estimates the total additional government expenditure due to the war between 2023 and 2026 at approximately 352 billion shekels, with defense costs accounting for about 249 billion. Following the "Operation Lion's Roar" in 2026, the defense budget was increased by an additional 32 billion shekels. The cumulative budgetary cost of the war is now estimated at around 400 billion shekels, exceeding half of the state's annual budget. The data indicates that the consequences of October 7 continue to unfold, with rising numbers of recognized victims and psychological disability cases throughout the past three years.