A public committee examining Israel’s national response to treating and rehabilitating wounded IDF soldiers submitted its recommendations Sunday to Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The proposals come against the backdrop of a dramatic surge in casualties since the October 7 atrocities—more than 25,000 wounded in the current war alone.
Among the key recommendations: establishing an independent authority within the Defense Ministry to treat wounded security personnel, with expanded powers and a dedicated budget, and appointing a personal liaison for each wounded soldier to guide them through rehabilitation. The committee also recommended expanding treatment options for psychological casualties, including alternative therapies and establishing a dedicated national psychiatric ward.
Additional recommendations include granting benefits urgently, creating a “Home for Life” facility for the most severely wounded, and improving medical care. The committee also proposed giving wounded soldiers the option to receive medical treatment through health maintenance organizations alongside strengthening the Rehabilitation Division’s medical system, and expanding services for physically wounded soldiers and unique populations.
The committee also addressed the need for a dedicated support system for families of the wounded, employment incentives that promote rehabilitation, and replacing the Rehabilitation Division’s digital infrastructure. The goal is to shorten and reduce bureaucratic processes and streamline recognition procedures and disability percentage determinations.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said the State of Israel faces an unprecedented rehabilitation challenge that will require treating some 100,000 wounded in the coming years. “Our duty is to ensure they and their families receive the most comprehensive rehabilitation support possible,” he said.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said “we have a deep moral and national debt to those who gave everything for Israel’s security.” He described the committee’s work as “a revolution in how the state supports IDF wounded and their families.”
As of May 2026, some 87,000 security system casualties are being treated by the Rehabilitation Division, of whom about 31,000 are dealing with psychological injuries and post-trauma. About 25,000 of those being treated were wounded in the current war, with roughly 15,500 of them (62%) struggling with psychological distress.