Over the past year, 322 IDF soldiers injured in Operation Protective Edge in Gaza have been recognized as disabled war veterans, the IDF unit for Rehabilitation stated Sunday.
177 IDF soldiers were recognized as handicapped by 20% or more, and 8 were deemed 100% handicapped from their injuries, it said.
72 soldiers were estimated to have been disabled by 10% -19%, and 73 to be suffering from handicaps under 9%. Several soldiers' files are still being processed as well, it added.
The Defense Ministry said that all the soldiers who were injured as a result of fighting, were recognized and absorbed immediately to the office responsible for handling rehabilitation in full coordination with the soldier, his family, and military officials.
Wounded soldiers were then immediately approved for medical coverage and living expenses reimbursement, and upon release from service were transferred to a medical board to determine the level of disability.
Every soldier injured in Protective Edge received a case manager and a team of professionals to help ease the rehabilitative process, both medically and socially, according to the report.