Israel’s Health System Under Strain as War Drives 24,000 Hospitalizations
More than two years into the current Gaza war, newly released figures show the immense burden placed on Israel’s healthcare system, with approximately 24,000 people treated in hospitals and more than 151,000 evacuees relying on medical services amid prolonged emergency conditions.
According to data published Tuesday, hospitals treated some 24,000 patients during the course of the war, while health maintenance organizations operated more than 100 service points in hotels and evacuation centers. These facilities served 151,200 evacuees, in addition to tens of thousands of others who evacuated independently.
The Health Ministry said it has continued to strengthen the system’s emergency preparedness, expanding its ability to respond to extreme scenarios. As part of that effort, 3,642 fortified hospital beds were added nationwide to improve protection and surge capacity.
At the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, more than 1,765 identification procedures and determinations of cause of death were carried out during the war. Among those cases were 86 fallen hostages, the most recent being Ran Gvili.
When residents were evacuated from Israel’s southern and northern border areas at the outset of the fighting, more than 100 HMO service points were established in hotels and population centers, alongside 362 mental health service locations. Overall, 151,200 evacuees and tens of thousands who relocated on their own received assistance from the Health Ministry. In addition, 168 former captives were treated and continue to receive care within the healthcare system, with ongoing support provided to their families.
On October 7, Israel’s healthcare system carried out the largest secondary patient redistribution ever undertaken in the country. More than 150 patients were transferred between hospitals that day, with 60 percent moved to other medical centers and 40 percent discharged.
The events of October 7 and the subsequent war have posed an unprecedented challenge to the resilience and mental health of Israeli society. In response, the government allocated more than 1.4 billion shekels to a national mental health program aimed at expanding and diversifying treatment options and maximizing system resources.
As part of the expansion, more than 700 new mental health professionals were added, along with over 1,000 psychology interns and an increase of roughly 100 psychiatry residents. Mental health centers now provide 1,370 therapist hours daily across 362 service locations. Between October 7, 2023, and July 2025, around 1,600 soldiers and victims of terror attacks were hospitalized for rehabilitation.
The Health Ministry also reported a 30 percent increase in the number of patients treated at community mental health clinics, the expansion of 128 such clinics nationwide, and a 42 percent rise in overall therapeutic encounters.
Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman Tov addressed the ongoing security situation, saying, “We are in a complex situation, working closely and in full coordination with the IDF, the Home Front Command, and the Medical Corps. There is continuous communication between us at all times, from headquarters to the hospitals on the ground. The level of alert has not been raised, but we have increased our level of preparedness. We understand that we are in a different security reality, where everything can change all the time due to many events. Emergency matters take up much more of our agenda. The need to prepare for unexpected events—whether it is war, earthquakes, or other scenarios—is essential. We don’t know what will happen, but we need to know how to deal with everything. We did not evacuate hospital parking garages or move departments underground, but we have improved our ability to do these things much more quickly if necessary.”
{Matzav.com}
