Trauma After October 7: Why a Survivor Is Still Denied Permanent Disability Status
Despite a diagnosis of PTSD and medical evidence, the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi) continues to assign only temporary disability status to an October 7 survivor. Attorney Gil Kraus calls this practice outrageous, noting that forcing victims to repeatedly prove their condition only deepens their psychological trauma.
G., a man in his 60s from Sderot, woke up to the sound of sirens on the morning of October 7. From his balcony, he watched as terrorists in vehicles roamed the city, shooting at passersby. Initially believing it was a film production, he eventually took his motorcycle to assess the situation. These details are outlined in a lawsuit he recently filed against the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi).
According to attorney Gil Kraus, who represents G., the institute forces many October 7 victims to appear repeatedly before medical committees, assigning them temporary disability ratings even nearly three years after the traumatic events. The lawyer argues that this behavior further exacerbates their mental injuries.
"The Terrorist Turned and Fired a Burst"
During his ride, G. witnessed horrific scenes. "I saw the bodies of women waiting for a bus, and the protected space did not open for them," he recounted. Seeking help, he drove toward the police station.
There, he saw a terrorist standing over two policemen. "The terrorist noticed me, and our eyes met. He turned and fired a burst at me. To my great luck, one bullet hit the mirror, and the rest passed by. A millisecond more, and I would have been riddled with bullets," he recalled. His memory of the immediate aftermath is blank; neighbors later told him they saw him return home and collapse on the stairs, injuring his shoulder.
While sheltering at home, he narrowly escaped death twice more. At one point, he entered his bedroom to charge his phone, and moments later, a mortar shell struck the spot where he had just been standing. "If my son hadn't called, I would have been killed. I was saved from death three times that day," he said.
Life After the Trauma
The lawsuit states that before October 7, G. led a successful life, managing a business and maintaining active social ties. Since the attack, he has withdrawn from society, separated from his partner, and stopped leaving his home. He has been diagnosed with PTSD and tinnitus, and remains under constant psychiatric care.
Although his treating psychiatrist confirmed that his condition is permanent, the National Insurance Institute appealed the decision of its own committee, which had initially granted G. a 46% permanent disability rating. Following the appeal, the status was reverted to temporary, and the rating was reduced to 30% without justification.
Attorney Kraus emphasizes that for a PTSD victim, each committee appearance is not a technicality, but a re-traumatizing event. He intends to appeal the decision to the Regional Labor Court in the coming days.
The National Insurance Institute has not provided a response.
