From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Welfare minister: Released hostages to receive $16,500 in financial aid upon return
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Addressing the Shas party’s annual conference, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoav Ben Tzur welcomes the ceasefire-hostage deal and says that his ministry is standing ready to assist freed hostages.
“This is a big day for the State of Israel. The National Insurance Institute is prepared and ready for their return to the country,” Ben Tzur states.
“There is a whole basket of support that has been prepared for the hostages who will be returning, from an immediate grant of NIS 10,000 ($2,700) for immediate needs, to a per abductee grant of NIS 50,000 ($13,800) for medical treatment and the unconditional recognition of 50 percent disability status.”
“All of this won’t help them forget so fast what they went through but I hope that God will heal their bodies and souls,” he adds.
The Times of Israel Community.