Israeli Defense Ministry Warns of PTSD Crisis Among 65% of Iron Swords War Casualties

On the 1,000th day since the outbreak of the Iron Swords war, Israel's Ministry of Defense Rehabilitation Department released alarming data revealing that approximately 26,200 security forces casualties have sought treatment since October 7. Of these, about 65% are receiving care for mental health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, adjustment difficulties, and depression. The department projects that by 2028, the number of treated casualties could reach 100,000, with around 50,000 suffering from psychological injuries, marking a more than 40% increase within three years and posing an unprecedented challenge to the national rehabilitation system.

The Ministry of Defense issued a stern warning that without immediate funding and implementation of recommendations from the public expert committee led by Professor Shlomo Mor Yosef, the rehabilitation system risks collapse. Amir Baram, the Defense Ministry Director General and retired general, emphasized at a Disabled IDF Veterans Organization conference that executing these recommendations is an obligation of the state, supported by both the Defense and Finance Ministers. Baram stressed, "If we do not act, this sensitive national rehabilitation system, which performs sacred work, may collapse under the strain."

Detailed statistics show that about 17,000 casualties suffer from mental injuries, with 7,700 also having physical wounds. Another 9,000 face physical injuries alone, including 97 amputees. Among the wounded, 62% are reservists, 21% conscripts, 10% Israeli Police personnel, and 7% career service members. Men constitute 92% of the patients, women 8%, and nearly half are under 30 years old, highlighting the heavy burden on a young generation.

The Rehabilitation Department has expanded mental health services significantly, now employing around 4,000 mental health professionals, four times the number at the war's start. The number of rehabilitation homes has tripled, and new innovative services have been launched, including nine rehabilitation farms, a mobile mental health unit for crisis situations, and a dedicated nursing ward for young patients. Despite these efforts, the Ministry stresses that a broader national response is urgently needed to cope with the expected surge in casualties, which could exceed 90,000 by 2026.

The Ministry's central message is clear: without immediate action, adequate budgeting, and expansion of rehabilitation services, the system will not withstand the growing demands. The wounded, bearing the physical and mental costs of war, require comprehensive national support to ensure their recovery. The true test, according to Baram, will be in the implementation of these measures, not merely in promises.