Israel Treats Over 26,000 War Casualties, Majority Facing Mental Health Challenges

The Rehabilitation Division of Israel's Ministry of Defense reported on Thursday that since the outbreak of the war 1,000 days ago, approximately 26,200 war casualties have sought treatment. Of these, 65% are coping with mental health issues such as anxiety, adjustment difficulties, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. The total number of injured IDF and security personnel from all wars is projected to exceed 90,000 by 2026, marking a sharp increase of over 40% in three years.

Among the war casualties, about 17,000 suffer from psychological injuries, with roughly 7,700 also experiencing physical injuries. Around 9,000 patients have physical injuries alone, including 97 with limb amputations. The breakdown of the injured shows that 62% are reservists, 21% are in mandatory service, 10% serve in the Israel Police, and 7% are career soldiers. Gender distribution is 92% men and 8% women. Nearly half of the new patients are under 30 years old, 30% are aged 30 to 39, and 22% are over 40.

The Rehabilitation Division estimates that by 2028, the total number of patients treated will reach about 100,000, with approximately 50,000 suffering from mental health conditions. The Ministry of Defense has warned that due to the significant rise in casualties, immediate budgeting and implementation of the comprehensive recommendations by the public expert committee led by Professor Shlomo Mor Yosef are essential. This committee was appointed by the defense and finance ministers and recently submitted its extensive action plan.

Major General (res.) Amir Baram, Director General of the Ministry of Defense, emphasized at a Disabled IDF Veterans Organization conference that "implementing these recommendations is not optional but Israel's duty." He noted support from both the defense and finance ministers but stressed that success will be measured by execution rather than statements. Failure to act risks collapsing the national rehabilitation system under the growing burden.

The Rehabilitation Division has significantly expanded its activities, now employing about 4,000 mental health professionals, four times the number at the war's start, and tripled the number of supportive homes. New innovative services have been established, including nine rehabilitation farms nationwide, a mobile mental health crisis unit, and a dedicated nursing ward for young patients. Nevertheless, the scale of casualties demands a broader national response.

Additionally, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman released a report this week highlighting serious failures in the medical evacuation management during the initial massacre day due to lack of command and control. The report also revealed chronic shortages of medical personnel and bureaucratic obstacles that hinder wounded soldiers from receiving proper care and benefits. According to the comptroller's data, about 20,000 soldiers and security personnel were wounded during the war as of September 2025, and approximately 1,660 war casualties have been treated in rehabilitation hospital departments from October 7, 2023, through July 2025.