A mockup of a new rehab facility that will be established in Israel for IDF veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries. Photo: FIDF

The nonprofit organization Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) and the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) have recently signed an agreement to create Israel’s only rehabilitation center dedicate to veterans of the Israel Defense Forces who are suffering from moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries.

The new 2,560-square-meter facility is expected to cost approximately $24 million and open by 2030. FIDF has committed $10 million to support construction and completion of the rehab facility and additional funding is being provided by the IMOD. Planning approvals and municipal permits have already been obtained and construction will begin after the tender process and preparations for the final project are completed, according to a press release about the new facility.

The rehab center will replace Beit Marguza, an aging rehabilitation center established in Jaffa in 1973. The newly constructed three-story facility will be located on Yitzhak Sadeh Street in Tel Aviv and will offer treatments and services including occupational therapy, social work, cognitive rehabilitation, emotional and behavioral treatment, physical rehabilitation, and creative and vocational therapies to aid long-term recovery. The building will have protected spaces, accessible parking, therapeutic outdoor areas, balconies on each level and a rooftop terrace for rehabilitation activities and community programs.

During the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip that began after the deadly terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 3, 2023, more than 300 IDF soldiers sustained traumatic brain injuries and approximately 100 severe cases required intensive, long-term care, according to the FIDF.

“Our responsibility to Israel’s wounded veterans does not end when they leave the battlefield,” said FIDF CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Nadav Padan. “Traumatic brain injuries are often described as invisible wounds because their effects extend far beyond physical symptoms. Veterans living with severe brain injuries frequently face long-term neurological, cognitive, emotional and behavioral challenges that require sustained, specialized intervention. The new center is being designed to address these complex needs through an integrated rehabilitation model that combines therapeutic, educational, vocational and social services under one roof.”

“Traumatic brain injuries often require years of highly specialized treatment and support, affecting every aspect of a veteran’s life, from cognitive functioning and emotional well-being to employment, relationships and daily independence,” he added. “This new center will provide veterans with the comprehensive care, dignity and long-term support they deserve while ensuring Israel is prepared to meet the rehabilitation challenges of today and the future.”

Ronit Senderovitch, head of the clinical social services division at the IMOD’s Rehabilitation Department, said the new rehab center “marks a milestone in the care provided to Israel’s most severely wounded veterans.”

“The center will unite world-leading treatments and technologies under one roof, in a modern, accessible, and dignified setting,” she added. “We thank our partners at FIDF for their steadfast commitment to the welfare of IDF wounded veterans. Ensuring these individuals receive the finest possible care on their path back to life and community is both a national and moral obligation.”