FIDF And Israel Ministry Of Defense To Establish New Rehabilitation Center For IDF Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injuries
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) and the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) have signed an agreement to establish a new state-of-the-art rehabilitation center for IDF veterans living with moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI), one of the most complex and life-altering wounds sustained in military service. FIDF has committed $10 million toward the project, which is expected to open by 2030 and will become the only facility in Israel dedicated exclusively to the rehabilitation of IDF veterans with traumatic brain injuries.
The new center comes at a critical time as Israel faces growing long-term rehabilitation needs following the War of Redemption, during which more than 300 soldiers sustained traumatic brain injuries, including approximately 100 severe cases requiring intensive, long-term care. While advances in battlefield medicine have enabled more wounded soldiers to survive catastrophic injuries, many now face years of specialized rehabilitation to regain independence, rebuild their lives and successfully reintegrate into their families and communities.
“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. 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,” he added.
The facility will replace Beit Marguza, an older rehabilitation center established in Jaffa in 1973 that does not meet the modern standards. After extensive evaluation, renovation of the aging facility was determined to be impractical, leading the IMOD to approve construction of a new purpose-built center designed specifically to meet the evolving needs of wounded veterans.
Centrally located on Yitzhak Sadeh Street in Tel Aviv, the new 2,560-square-meter facility will accommodate approximately 60 veterans at any given time and provide comprehensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatments and services. The center will offer occupational therapy, social work, cognitive rehabilitation, emotional and behavioral treatment, physical rehabilitation, and a range of creative and vocational therapies designed to support long-term recovery.
The facility will feature three dedicated rehabilitation floors, secure protected spaces, accessible parking, therapeutic outdoor areas, balconies on each level, and a rooftop terrace designed to support rehabilitation activities and community programming. Built to meet all modern accessibility standards, the center will provide a dignified and therapeutic environment while maintaining the flexibility to address future rehabilitation needs.
The project is expected to cost approximately $24 million, with FIDF’s $10 million commitment supporting construction and completion of the facility alongside funding provided by the IMOD. 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.
“The new rehabilitation center marks a milestone in the care provided to Israel’s most severely wounded veterans. Head injuries present complex challenges affecting patients and their families alike,” said Ronit Senderovitch, Head of the Clinical Social Services Division at the IMOD’s Rehabilitation Department. “The center will unite world-leading treatments and technologies under one roof, in a modern, accessible, and dignified setting. 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,” she added.
