78,000 injured Israeli soldiers, cases of PTSD set to increase

Data released by the Israeli Ministry of Defence during a special session in the Knesset yesterday suggested that the number of injured soldiers in the Israeli occupation army has risen to 78,000. This is an increase of 16,000 since the start of the war on Gaza began in October 2023.

A ministry representative reported that 51 per cent of the wounded are under the age of 30, and that most of the newly injured soldiers are reserve soldiers. They also expect an increase in the number of those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

According to the Ministry of Defence representative, ten per cent of the wounded suffer moderate to serious injuries, while 6,363 wounded need permanent medical care. The representative stated that the government has appointed 400 new psychologists to deal with those suffering from psychological disorders.

The ministry explained that the budget for the care of the wounded has increased by 72 per cent since 2020, reaching NIS 841 million ($232 million) in 2024 compared to the previous budget of NIS 492 million ($136 million).

During the meeting, the committee representatives called on the government to facilitate the procedures for employing foreign workers to care for disabled soldiers. The head of the committee, MK Etty Hava Atia, called for adopting permanent solutions instead of temporary extensions of foreign workers’ permits. She warned against escalating the suffering of the wounded and their families.

READ: Israel media: Army spokesperson Daniel Hagari dismissed