On Sunday the government panel led by Professor Shlomo Mor Yosef delivered its opening report urging sweeping reforms in care for roughly 50,000 former IDF personnel dealing with emotional trauma and submitted the findings to the Defense and Finance Ministries.

Mor Yosef whose group started work in November 2025 noted that such a review should have begun at least twelve months sooner given the sharp rise in physical injuries and PTSD linked to the conflicts that began in October 2023.

Although the Defense Ministry projected in March 2025 that total wounded would reach 100,000 around 2030 ongoing operations in Lebanon have advanced that timeline to 2028.

The panel acknowledged recent ministry efforts to speed approvals for benefits and therapy yet concluded those steps fall short of what is required.

It therefore urged creation of a largely autonomous agency equipped with its own funding technology and streamlined decision making.

Mor Yosef argued that the ministry with its roughly two dozen divisions moves too slowly and that an independent body would cut delays.

The committee noted the budget for these services has already risen from about NIS 5 billion to NIS 10 billion between 2023 and 2026 and recommended an extra NIS 2 billion annually plus a one time outlay exceeding NIS 500 million to launch the new authority.

Legal Steps Needed for Implementation

Many proposals require fresh legislation.

With elections approaching and limited time for Knesset action the panel advised the current government to enact immediate regulations to accelerate the process.

Emotional trauma now accounts for about half of all new claims since 2023 compared with roughly 15 percent in earlier conflicts out of approximately 25,000 filings tied to the recent wars.

Among the key recommendations is funding weekly therapy sessions instead of one visit every two or three weeks.

The ministry would also assign an IDF representative to accompany each claimant before review boards to ensure greater sensitivity.

Specialized clinics would treat former soldiers together rather than alongside other patient groups.

Digital services through major health providers would be expanded and artificial intelligence would help shorten recognition and treatment timelines.

Overall claims have reached 87,000 including around 31,000 linked to emotional trauma or PTSD.

Of recent war claimants 12,500 are over age 30 16,000 are reservists and 2,000 are women.

AI Tools Aid Mental Health Care

Earlier this year the IDF and Defense Ministry introduced artificial intelligence to support mental health units treating soldiers with PTSD.

EEG devices paired with AI now generate personalized calming cues that help individuals stabilize during difficult episodes.

Research is examining whether exposure to a familiar voice or song yields better outcomes.

AI also reduces time spent on record keeping freeing clinicians to see patients more frequently.