Government pushing bill to automatically give freed hostages full disability benefits

The government is advancing legislation to expand benefits for hostages who were abducted on October 7 and have since returned from captivity, according to a joint statement from the Defense Ministry, the National Insurance Institute, and the Hostages, Missing Persons and Returnees Directorate of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Under the proposed change, all returning hostages — both civilians and soldiers — will automatically receive full benefits equivalent to those granted to IDF veterans with 100% disability or to victims of hostilities, without needing to appear before a medical committee.

These rights will be permanent and cover medical and psychological care, employment assistance, education, housing, transportation, a full tax exemption and more. Additionally, all released hostages will be entitled to state-funded medical treatment in perpetuity.

According to the statement, the amendment is based on a holistic approach to the hostages’ rehabilitation, taking into account the severe physical and psychological trauma they endured during captivity in Gaza.