Israel's Defense Ministry Reports 30,000 War-Related Injuries Since Oct. 7

Since the October 7th Hamas attacks, approximately 30,000 soldiers and security forces personnel have been registered as injured by Israel's Ministry of Defense Rehabilitation Department. Of these, 63% are dealing with psychological trauma, while 37% have sustained physical injuries. The total number of individuals receiving treatment from the department has reached 91,200, with projections indicating this figure could exceed 100,000 by 2028. Among the newly injured, 47% are under 30 years old, 62% are reservists, and 8% are women. The data also highlights hundreds with particularly complex injuries, including 63 individuals with 100% disability ratings, 249 with severe head injuries, 29 with permanent vision loss, and 106 amputees. Innovative prosthetics, including those for extreme sports, have been fitted for 95% of amputees.

The surge in casualties has led to a significant expansion of the Rehabilitation Department's services. Its budget has increased by 88% over the past three years, reaching 10 billion shekels, with over 60% allocated to mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments. Last year saw approximately 171,000 alternative therapy sessions and 16,500 calls to the "Nefesh Achat" (One Soul) helpline. The number of mental health professionals assisting injured soldiers has tripled since the war's outset, now totaling around 2,300. New support systems include rehabilitation farms, community-based "safe houses" and "balancing houses" as alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization, and technological PTSD treatments. Emergency response teams have been deployed over 500 times since January 2024 to assist individuals in acute psychological distress.

Beyond medical and psychological care, the department has enhanced support for employment, studies, and vocational training. Since the war began, 2,425 injured individuals have received full funding for academic and professional studies, with law, business administration, and computer science being the most popular fields. In July, the government approved recommendations to transform the Rehabilitation Department into the "National Authority for Rehabilitation and Treatment of IDF and Security Forces Casualties," a move aimed at improving recognition processes, incentivizing employment, and establishing specialized care facilities, including a "home for life" for severely brain-injured individuals and tailored support for lone soldiers and female casualties.