One of the research centers of the Zionist regime stated in a report that the consequences of the ongoing war against the Gaza Strip have gone beyond the military arena and turned into an economic–social crisis, exerting heavy pressure on the political structures and the public budget of the Tel Aviv regime.
According to a study recently published by The Taub, the number of Zionist military personnel who make use of the army’s rehabilitation services and pensions has exceeded 132,000 people.
This figure shows an increase of about 16,000 people compared to the beginning of the Gaza war and reflects the scale of human losses, especially physical and psychological injuries, within the ranks of the Zionist regime’s army. The rise in referrals to rehabilitation services is considered an alarm for the health and welfare system of this regime; a system that was already facing shortages of resources and manpower.
Within this framework, the aforementioned study warns that the Israeli regime's welfare ministry is facing unprecedented challenges in containing the social consequences of the war. Although the budget of this ministry in 2024 has increased to around 400 billion shekels (approximately 111 billion US dollars)—an increase of 38 billion shekels (about 10.3 to 10.6 billion US dollars) compared to 2023—the majority of this increase has been spent on covering the repercussions of the events of October 7, 2023, and the continuation of the war for more than two years. In other words, the budget increase has not been allocated to the development of services, but rather to compensating for war-related damages.
According to this study, one of the most prominent manifestations of this pressure is the sharp jump in social security expenditures in 2024. Based on statistics, these costs have reached about 26 billion shekels (around 7 billion US dollars), whereas just one year before the outbreak of the war, this figure was about 1.7 billion shekels (approximately 465 million US dollars).
The main reason for this surge is the payment of pensions and extensive benefits to reserve forces who have been called up for long periods; a matter that has both disrupted the labor market and placed a heavy financial burden on the cabinet.
According to this study, the burden of the war is not limited to military personnel. Thousands of Zionist displaced persons who were evacuated from border areas have resided for months in hotels and temporary accommodation centers at regime expense. In addition, the number of individuals with physical and psychological injuries has risen to about 32,000, whereas before the war this number was close to 5,000. This increase has placed additional pressure on medical, psychological treatment, and support services.
The Taub Center’s study also reveals a human resources crisis. According to estimates, the welfare ministry needs at least 1,300 additional social workers to confront the psychological and social consequences of the war; a shortage that indicates the depth of the structural crisis among the Zionist masses.
MNA/86046973
Your Comment