On Wednesday, the Knesset approved a bill in the first reading that defines benefits for individuals who went missing or were taken hostage on October 7. The bill, which will now be discussed in the Labor and Welfare committee, determines the stipends victims will receive based on their salary, with a minimum of NIS 7,000 and a cap of NIS 50,000.
The bill extends benefits through early October, excluding soldiers and security members. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich acknowledged the end of a public committee’s work on providing aid to those affected by October 7, visiting the city of Ofakim.
Residents of Ofakim
The committee recommended grants of NIS 7,180 per adult and NIS 1,436 per child for residents of Ofakim, totaling over NIS 220 million. The focus was on rehabilitation and reintegration into society for those affected, highlighting the severity of harm caused on October 7.