Illustrative: wounded loaded into ambulance after terror attack
Illustrative: wounded loaded into ambulance after terror attackMuammar Awad/Flash90

The Ministry of Defense's Rehabilitation Department presented to the Knesset Comptroller's Committee information about the latest terror wave on Wednesday morning, including partial data on the number of injuries. 

The Ministry of Defense has recognized 19 police, IDF soldiers, and Border Police officers as disabled veterans since the beginning of October, expediting the bureaucratic acceptance process so that all could receive full benefits immediately. Of those, 12 were police and Border Police officers, and seven were IDF soldiers and enlisted Border Police soldiers. 

The Ministry has also made progress in the lengthy processing of soldiers wounded during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in summer 2014, which had stalled somewhat in the intervening 14 months. 

During and immediately after the operation, the department received 594 applications for disabled veteran status - 337 from reservists, 199 from soldiers in mandatory service, and 58 from career officers. 

All soldiers who were directly injured as a result of the fighting were immediately recognized and incorporated into the veterans' program, which includes state-provided medical treatment and living expenses, as well as a state assessment to determine their final status as disabled persons under Israeli law. 

201 IDF soldiers were recognized as persons suffering from a handicap of 20% or more; 83 were determined to be suffering from a permanent handicap of 10-19%; and 99 were recognized as suffering from 1%-9% handicap. 

Of the remainder, some requests were filed over ongoing medical expenses or treatment, and others late-filed requests not submitted in the direct aftermath of the operation itself. Several applicants who received handicapped status cancelled treatment on their own. 

Each case accepted by the Rehabilitation department receives a case manager and social, psychological, and occupational counseling throughout the rehabilitative process, in addition to financial benefits.