Data marking 100 days of fighting

Here is the data after 100 days of fighting:

As the responsible entity for the treatment of civilian victims of hostile actions (not security forces), the National Insurance - marking 100 days of fighting - issues an up-to-date summary that includes all the information and data about hostile actions casualties, as well as matters arising from the prolonged fighting that are under the responsibility of the National Insurance. Among the topics: unemployment, payment to hundreds of thousands of reservists, occupancy grants, incentive and promotion grants, and more.

Data on wounded, murdered and hostages

• Since the beginning of the 'Iron Swords' war, there have been 779 casualties as part of the war, 76 of whom are foreign citizens. It is important to note that there are still changes in the number of casualties because the information about them, which is transferred to the National Insurance, is constantly changing. 
• Within 100 days of war, the National Insurance has so far recognized 52,571 victims, of which: 3,619 were Nova and Psyduck party victims, all the other victims are from the settlements around the border and the cities infiltrated by terrorists, as well as civilians who were injured during the fighting.  Out of 52,571 victims – 102 were severely injured and 171 moderately injured.
• The National Insurance handles 99 families of hostages and 109 released hostages, and at the same time 1,962 repeat victims of hostile actions who were injured in a terrorist act in the past and were harmed again in the course of the "Iron Swords" war.

Scope of payments

So far, the National Insurance has transferred approximately NIS 930 million as part of the treatment of victims of hostile actions and terrorism in the "Iron Swords" war.

• As part of the response to the families of casualties and their accompaniment, the National Insurance transferred more than NIS 19.9 million to the families for: assistance during the mourning days with funeral expenses, burial expenses as well as monthly allowances. This is in parallel with the support of the National Insurance's Rehabilitation Department, funding of psychological treatments, support groups and more.
• For the war wounded – more than NIS 62 million were transferred to the party participants as initial and immediate assistance, to the first-line victims – the border settlements and the cities infiltrated by terrorists - an additional NIS 759 million were transferred.
• The National Insurance transferred more than NIS 92.4 million to the families of hostages and released hostages, when last week, for the second time, the quarterly grants were transferred to the families, to let them continue to help and enable the advancement of efforts for the release all hostages. The assistance included, inter alia, an initial organization grant in the amount of NIS 10,000, mental assistance, a quarterly grant in the amount of NIS 90,000 for parents and spouses, quarterly grants in the amount of NIS 21,000 for others and children over the age of 21 and more.
• In addition, the hostages who returned from Hamas captivity were given a response from the National Insurance with initial assistance of NIS 10,000, allowances for the coming months, mental care, and this in parallel with a personal rehabilitation worker closely monitoring anyone who has been released.

Treatment of wounded people

It is important to note that there is currently no compensation law in the State of Israel for victims of national disasters, and therefore the National Insurance is obliged to provide assistance under the Compensation Law, which examines the remaining damage (physical or mental) following the war, and the individual assistance is provided accordingly.

After 100 days, the National Insurance is currently moving between hotels and settlements, holding zoom meetings and conversations with the victims and the heads of the settlements in order to make the procedure accessible and explain the procedure  and the continued assistance under the Compensations as Hostile Actions Casualties Law.

The National Insurance continues to fund treatments at the resilience centers, which provide tailored treatments in situations of trauma, personal, couples or group treatments, etc.

War consequences – Unemployment, occupancy grants, incentive and promotion grants

Unemployment benefits

As mentioned, the war ripples are also partly concentrated in National Insurance and the organization also regularly handles assistance to more than 209.9 thousand unemployed claimants, and from October to today more than NIS 2.52 billion in unemployment benefits have been transferred to citizens who have stopped working during this period.

As a reminder, during this period the National Insurance pushed and participated in legislative changes to relieve those who lost their jobs during this period, with an emphasis on evacuated settlements.

At the same time, the National Insurance also pays grants for those aged 67+ to those who have lost their jobs due to the fighting and are beyond the working age. Notably, the legislation that extended the grant for the month of December (which is paid in January) has not yet been made public by the legislator and prevents the National Insurance from transferring the money to whoever is eligible for the grant.

Occupancy grants

Within 100 days of fighting, many settlements were evacuated from the north and south of the country when the State passed a government decision according to which each family will receive a grant if they are not staying in a place funded by the State. Amount of the grant: NIS 200 for an adult over 18 and NIS 100 for a child.

In practice, the National Insurance implements the government's decision, built a digital system that is easy and simple to use for declarations, consistency in the responses on an ongoing issues, as well as the payment. So far, the National Insurance has transferred more than a billion shekels to Israeli citizens who have been evicted from their homes following the fighting.

Incentive and promotion grants

As part of the war, 2 government decisions dealing with the return to the labor market were passed.

Incentive grants – for those who work in agriculture and construction as part of the "Iron Swords" war (and did not work in these industries before).

Promotion grants – for evacuees and those who work for an employer located in an evacuated area – in accordance with the eligibility conditions set by the government.

The National Insurance was asked to execute this decision and, so far, more than 40,000 grants have been paid in the amount of approximately NIS 105.7 million.

At the same time, the National Insurance transfers payments to reservists and employers (reimbursement for remuneration of salaries to employees), and for the first time in the history of the State of Israel, the National Insurance initiated, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense and IDF, payment at the beginning of each month, and not at the end of the service period, and as automatically as possible based on the data and cooperation between the IDF and the National Insurance. For the sake of information protection and security reasons, the number of reservists and the amounts transferred to them will not be published.

In addition, during the 100 days of the war, the National Insurance visited more than 280 hotels throughout the country where the evacuees were staying, and acted to realize their rights in all issues they needed – both in the framework of the war and current needs, such as disabilities, long-term care, old age, etc.

National Insurance employees also came to hospitals and visited the wounded who were hospitalized following their injury, and accompanied them from the moment of the injury onwards. In addition, a dedicated hotline for war victims has been established, reaching more than 6,170 inquiries per week, along with 25,000 online requests for assistance in connection with the war and its ripples.

• Minister of Labor, Yoav Ben Tzur: "A hundred days of fighting have passed and as time goes by we are exposed to the size of the pain, terror, difficulty and understand that the war and its consequences will remain with us for a long time. National Insurance assistance continues to be especially necessary at this time and as the responsible Minister I will make sure that we turn over every stone to help, accompany and respond to anyone in need. My responsibility both as a Minister in the government and as a Minister of labor, and the responses provided in the framework of my role on the various aspects of the war constantly sharpens the magnitude of my responsibility and commitment to the citizens of Israel."
• Yarona Shalom, Acting Director General of the National Insurance: "We are going through a challenging, difficult and complex period both as ordinary citizens and as those entrusted to treat victims of war and deal with its consequences. The National Insurance Institute will continue its work at all times and with a great sense of mission - to help anyone in need. The National Insurance was established for this purpose and is a necessary body in normal times and even seven times more so in wartime. Together with the entire people of Israel, we hope that we will soon reach quieter and better days, but even after this period, the National Insurance will accompany the victims from this moment and throughout their lives."

Currently, the National Insurance is preparing for the establishment of 2 centers that will deal with victims of hostile actions and the families of casualties and hostages, and provide a holistic solution for all their needs.