More and more Israeli soldiers becoming DISABLED as Gaza conflict drags on

By richardbrown // 2024-08-20

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Israel's Ministry of Defense reported on Aug. 14 that the Israeli Defense Forces' (IDF) Department of Rehabilitation has treated over 10,000 soldiers for conflict-related injuries since the ongoing war in Gaza began on Oct. 7, with an increasing number of these wounded soldiers becoming permanently disabled. According to the data, 37 percent of the treated soldiers suffered "physical trauma to their limbs," while 35 percent are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder or other trauma-induced mental disorders. Notably, 68 percent of these treated individuals are reservists. (Related: War on Gaza has "disabled" as many as 20,000 Israeli soldiers, estimates show.) The rehabilitation division also predicts a significant increase in the number of disabled veterans, estimating that by 2030, around 100,000 veterans will be living with disabilities, with mental health conditions accounting for half of these cases. More and more of these Israeli soldiers are being processed by medical institutions and attempting to reintegrate into Israeli society, but the war's quick pace is preventing most of the Israeli public from internalizing the implications of thousands of physically and mentally disabled soldiers attempting to rejoin civilian life, especially since many public spaces are not friendly to disabled people. "Our house is not wheelchair-accessible, so we have moved to another temporary house until we get organized," said Yitzhak Schwartz, 35, a reservist who was left paralyzed in his lower body after being wounded in Gaza. "I go to treatments throughout the week and I know that my job as an engineer in this situation is also complex." "Before the injury, I didn't realize what accessibility meant, now even if a floor tile protrudes slightly, I can't pass with my wheelchair. As someone who works in construction, I know how much effort it takes to obtain electrical permits such as the occupancy authorization form," he continued. "But accessibility? Not really. In Israel, people don't really understand its significance. When the space is adapted and accessible, it saves unnecessary questions or excessive attention. When I try to pass with my wheelchair and don’t succeed, four different people approach me with good intentions, but it's awkward."

Thousands of Israeli soldiers have been injured since Oct. 7

The Defense Ministry is currently formulating a strategy to address and treat those injured in the war. The proposed plan will be in addition to the ongoing treatment programs for the approximately 62,000 disabled veterans who were receiving care before the conflict began. These include disabled individuals from all of Israel's security bodies, not just the IDF. According to IDF data, 4,310 soldiers have been wounded since Oct. 7. Of them, 640 were seriously wounded, 1,083 were moderately wounded and 2,587 had light injuries. The ongoing operations in Gaza have resulted in 2,206 IDF soldiers being injured – 417 seriously, 675 moderately and 1,114 lightly. The IDF reports that another 690 IDF soldiers have been killed, with 330 being killed during ground operations in Gaza. Another 63 security personnel and one civilian Defense Ministry contractor have been killed. These numbers come amid Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza, which have caused widespread devastation, with the Gaza Health Ministry claiming that over 40,000 Palestinians have already been killed, including over 19,000 children. The extent of the devastation in Gaza is likely hiding thousands more dead bodies that are yet to be recovered. Despite the extensive damage and significant loss of life, analyses suggest that the Israeli army has only succeeded in neutralizing three out of 24 battalions of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. Watch this Aug. 10 episode of "The Kim Iversen Show" as host Kim Iversen interviews a former member of the IDF who proceeds to debunk Israel's claim that its military is the "most moral army" in the world. This video is from the Sanivan channel on Brighteon.com.

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Thousands of Israeli soldiers have been injured since Oct. 7

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