TEL AVIV, Israel โ Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Ministry of Defense have signed an agreement to establish Israel’s first state-of-the-art rehabilitation center dedicated exclusively to Israel Defense Forces veterans living with moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries. The project includes a $10 million commitment from FIDF and is expected to open by 2030.
The facility will become the only rehabilitation center in Israel devoted specifically to treating traumatic brain injuries sustained during military service. It is expected to accommodate approximately 60 veterans at any given time and will provide comprehensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation services designed to address the complex physical, cognitive, emotional, and social consequences of traumatic brain injuries.
The announcement comes amid growing rehabilitation needs following the War of Redemption. According to the Israel Ministry of Defense, more than 300 Israeli soldiers sustained traumatic brain injuries during the conflict, including approximately 100 severe cases requiring intensive and long-term specialized care.
Advances in battlefield medicine have significantly improved survival rates among severely wounded soldiers. However, many survivors now face years of rehabilitation as they work to regain independence and successfully reintegrate into civilian life.
Addressing Invisible Wounds
Traumatic brain injuries are among the most complex wounds sustained during military service. While some symptoms may be immediately apparent, many veterans experience long-term neurological, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral challenges that can significantly affect every aspect of their daily lives.
“Our responsibility to Israel’s wounded veterans does not end when they leave the battlefield,” said FIDF Chief Executive Officer 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.”
Padan said the center is being designed to address those 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 said.
“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.”
A Purpose Built Rehabilitation Facility
The new rehabilitation center will replace Beit Marguza, a rehabilitation facility established in Jaffa in 1973 that no longer meets contemporary rehabilitation standards.
Following extensive evaluations, officials determined that renovating the aging facility would not adequately address the evolving needs of wounded veterans. The Israel Ministry of Defense subsequently approved the construction of a purpose-built center specifically designed to provide advanced traumatic brain injury rehabilitation services.
Located on Yitzhak Sadeh Street in Tel Aviv, the 2,560-square-meter facility will feature three dedicated rehabilitation floors designed to deliver comprehensive treatment programs.
Services will include occupational therapy, physical rehabilitation, social work services, cognitive rehabilitation, emotional and behavioral treatment, as well as creative and vocational therapies intended to support long-term recovery and community reintegration.
The facility will also include secure protected spaces, accessible parking areas, therapeutic outdoor spaces, balconies on each floor, and a rooftop terrace designed for rehabilitation activities and community programming.
Built in accordance with modern accessibility standards, the center has been designed to remain adaptable as rehabilitation practices continue to evolve in the coming decades.
A National and Moral Responsibility
Ronit Senderovitch, Head of the Clinical Social Services Division at the Israel Ministry of Defense’s Rehabilitation Department, described the project as a significant milestone in the care provided to Israel’s most severely wounded veterans.
“The new rehabilitation center marks a milestone in the care provided to Israel’s most severely wounded veterans,” she said.
“Head injuries present complex challenges affecting patients and their families alike. The center will unite world-leading treatments and technologies under one roof, in a modern, accessible, and dignified setting.”
Senderovitch thanked FIDF for its longstanding partnership with Israel’s wounded veterans.
“We thank our partners at FIDF for their steadfast commitment to the welfare of IDF wounded veterans,” she said. “Ensuring these individuals receive the finest possible care on their path back to life and community is both a national and moral obligation.”
Investing in Israel’s Future
The rehabilitation center is expected to cost approximately $24 million. FIDF’s $10 million commitment will support construction and completion of the project alongside funding provided by the Israel Ministry of Defense.
Planning approvals and municipal permits have already been secured, and the project is expected to advance toward construction following completion of the tender process and final project preparations.
Founded as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces provides assistance through educational programs, financial aid initiatives, bereavement services, mental health programs, and rehabilitation support for wounded veterans and their families.
For Israel’s wounded veterans, the new rehabilitation center represents more than a medical facility. It reflects a growing national commitment to ensuring that those who sacrificed in defense of the State of Israel receive the specialized care and long-term support necessary to rebuild their lives.
