Finance, Defense ministries to establish c’mtee to expand resources for wounded IDF soldiers
“We manage to save severely wounded people who previously would not have survived.” Airborne evacuation of wounded from Gaza (photo credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)
A new public committee, led by senior medical experts, will oversee an expanded national response for wounded IDF soldiers, with a focus on psychological care and integration.
Defense Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Sunday the establishment of a joint public committee to expand the national response for the care and rehabilitation of wounded IDF soldiers.
The move comes against the backdrop of an unprecedented rise in the number of wounded from the “Swords of Iron” war.
The committee will be headed by Prof. Shlomo Mor-Yosef, alongside representatives from the Rehabilitation Department, the chairman of the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization, the IDF, the Finance Ministry, and experts in rehabilitation and psychiatry.
Prof. Yitzhak Shapira, deputy director of Ichilov Hospital, will serve as deputy chairman.
According to estimates by the Defense Ministry’s Rehabilitation Department, by 2028, the department will have treated 100,000 wounded, including about 50,000 psychological wounds. This marks thefastest increase in wounded cases in the history of Israel’s wars.
IDF operates in Gaza, August 29, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)
Expanding national support
The committee is tasked with forming a comprehensive national response to the needs of wounded IDF soldiers and members of the security forces. It will focus on rehabilitation processes, personal and community support, therapeutic and emotional care, and integration into society and employment.
The committee will also examine the expansion of existing services in light of the growing number of wounded, their changing characteristics, new needs, and the constraints of resources and manpower. It will look at the allocation of resources required for this effort.
According to the Defense and Finance ministries, the committee reflects a national obligation to ensure the welfare of wounded soldiers and guarantee them the best rehabilitation and integration into society. They described it as a moral and ethical anchor for strengthening unity and trust between those who serve and the state.
The committee will examine and streamline the recognition process for disabled veterans, addressing medical treatment and rehabilitation, with an emphasis on employment integration. It will review the structure of benefits and work to simplify the system. The committee will also develop support for families, including spouses, children, and parents of the wounded.
Additionally, it will establish a shared responsibility with government bodies, the business sector, and the third sector. Finally, it will identify and determine the resources required, including budget, manpower, organizational structure, and partnerships.
“The decision to establish the public committee stems from a deep understanding of the price of war and the growing need. It is intended to expand the services and provide a real response – medical, emotional, and occupational – out of moral and social responsibility for the entire nation. We will leave no one behind,” Defense Minister Israel Katz commented.
“We will ensure that the necessary budgets and resources are allocated so that every soldier, man or woman, who was wounded in body or soul for all of us, can recover, return to full lives, and reintegrate into society and employment in the best possible way,” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich added.
