State Criticized for Delays and Gaps in Rehabilitation of Israeli War Wounded

A recent report by the State Comptroller, released on June 3, 2025, sharply criticizes Israel's security and health systems for failing to adequately provide rehabilitation services and rights information to soldiers and security personnel wounded in the ongoing conflict since October 2023. Approximately 20,000 soldiers and security forces were injured during the war, with around 1,660 hospitalized in rehabilitation wards by July 2025. The report highlights that hospitals, the IDF, and the Ministry of Defense lack clear protocols for informing wounded personnel about their rehabilitation options, forcing many to rely on informal word-of-mouth information.

The audit, conducted by the Ministry of State Comptroller's Director General, Brigadier General (res.) Yishai Wakin, underscores serious shortcomings in the rehabilitation process. Wakin emphasized the state's duty to support its wounded soldiers, noting that many are unaware of their full rights and benefits. The report reveals that 80% of wounded soldiers have only moderate or less knowledge of their entitlements, and many eligible for benefits such as rental reimbursements or vehicle allowances do not receive them. Financially, the Ministry of Defense's Rehabilitation Department fails to inform disabled veterans about the consequences of choosing direct payments, resulting in tens of millions of shekels in unpaid social benefits in 2024 alone.

The report also exposes delays in processing medical recognition requests, with thousands pending beyond the maximum allowed time, and a significant backlog in hospital rehabilitation treatments, particularly at Sheba Medical Center where treatment intensity per patient has declined. Additionally, Sheba converted two geriatric wards into rehabilitation units without proper authorization, reducing care availability for elderly patients.

In response, the Ministry of Defense acknowledged the unprecedented scale of wounded personnel and the need for a comprehensive national response. It cited the appointment of a public expert committee led by Professor Shlomo Mor Yosef, which recently recommended an extensive action plan addressing many of the Comptroller's concerns. The Ministry also defended its "rehabilitation before bureaucracy" policy, which prioritizes immediate care over early medical committee assessments, and highlighted rapid recognition rates and expanded rehabilitation services despite national shortages of medical staff.

The IDF expressed appreciation for the wounded soldiers and noted ongoing efforts to improve data sharing between military medical records and rehabilitation services to enhance treatment continuity. The report calls for immediate government action to ensure accessible information, timely payments, and improved rehabilitation services for Israel's wounded veterans.