Injured Israeli soldiers needing care to hit 100,000, ministry says

Israel’s Defence Ministry said on Monday that the number of wounded troops and security personnel requiring long-term care has climbed to 82,400, with a rapidly growing share suffering from psychological trauma.

The ministry’s Rehabilitation Division reported that 31,000 of those under its care are coping with mental or post-traumatic injuries, warning that the caseload is expected to reach 100,000 within four years.

The figures were released ahead of the Day of Appreciation for the Wounded Men and Women of the IDF and Security Forces. Ceremonies on Monday night and Tuesday will honour injured personnel.

Attorney Idan Kliman, chairman of the IDF Disabled Organisation, said the figures demand urgent national attention. “These numbers are not just numbers — but people, heroes, and entire families,” he said. “We must not leave any wounded behind, not even those whose injuries are not visible.”

According to the new figures, roughly 22,000 wounded were added to the system after the October 7 attacks and ensuing war, and 58% of that group is dealing with mental injury. The ministry said it now receives about 1,500 new applications each month from wounded seeking official recognition. In cooperation with the Finance Ministry, a public committee led by Prof. Mor Yosef has been established “to examine the expansion of the national response, support and treatment of the IDF wounded.”

The Rehabilitation Division’s budget has risen 53%, reaching NIS 8.3 billion (about $2.57 billion), with half of that dedicated to mental-health care. Over the past year, the number of psychological treatments provided doubled, the use of alternative therapies increased by 50%, and calls to the ministry’s “One Soul” emotional-support line surged by 80% to more than 20,500.

The ministry also published demographic data on those receiving rehabilitation: 9% are women; 26% were injured in the past two years; 49% were wounded during compulsory IDF service; 26% are reservists; 13% are career soldiers; and 9% are police officers. Some 68% of patients are over 40 years old, while 873 are confined to wheelchairs, including 132 injured since October 7. The division is also treating 1,061 amputees and 115 people coping with blindness. The oldest disabled veteran is a 98-year-old who fought in the pre-state Haganah. Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut was identified as the city with the highest number of wounded per capita.

Officials highlighted a range of expanded services, including the Matan Team, a mobile intervention unit that sends therapists to the homes of wounded soldiers during acute psychological distress. The team responded to 249 emergency calls over the past year, helping prevent hospitalisation. Nature-based rehabilitation programs now serve more than twice as many wounded as last year, and over 30,000 individuals receive emotional therapy. Another 11,500 family members receive counselling and support.

To improve long-term prospects for wounded veterans, the ministry has launched employment initiatives, including a cyber-training program in which “100% of participants were absorbed into the workforce,” and a high-tech integration track known as “We Win With You.” The Customer Relations Division has also expanded, assigning personal contact officers to wounded individuals and coordinating with the IDF Casualties Division to support roughly 4,000 people through home visits and guidance.

Meanwhile, a specialised unit was created to assist the 30 Israelis who returned from captivity and their families.

Around 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The body of Israeli Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili is the last remaining in Gaza.