Israeli military rehabilitation unit near collapse as wounded caseload surges, Channel 12 reports

JERUSALEM — Israel's Defense Ministry rehabilitation unit is on the verge of collapse amid a sharp rise in the number of wounded soldiers, particularly from Hezbollah attacks, Israeli Channel 12 reported. The broadcaster said a dispute between the Finance and Defense ministries has frozen a government plan to improve rehabilitation services for the wounded, despite repeated warnings of system failure following nearly three years of war. According to the report, the total number of physically and psychologically wounded Israeli soldiers is approaching 90,000, with 26,000 seeking mental-health treatment in recent months. A special commission had recommended allocating 2 billion shekels annually to expand post-traumatic stress disorder treatment, improve wounded-soldier services, support employment programs and develop digital services. The Finance Ministry told the commission there was no budget available before the plan could be approved. The Defense Ministry unit has warned it is on the brink of collapse as caseloads surge, and that delays in adopting the commission's recommendations could break the rehabilitation system for army wounded. The Finance Ministry has argued that funding is the Defense Ministry's responsibility, while the Defense Ministry has responded that its budget cannot cover the costs after three years of military operations.