Marking 500 days since the October 7 massacre, the Jewish Agency submitted its special report about the Fund for Victims of Terror to Michal Herzog, the wife of President Isaac Herzog, on Monday.
The report reviewed the scope of damage inflicted since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War. Investment in rehabilitation totaled NIS 85,528,480 over the past 15 months, the report said.
The fund was made possible by donations from the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the United Israel Appeal (Keren Hayesod), Israeli Spirit, and other donors.
The fund was established during the Second Intifada (2000-2005) and supports victims of terrorist attacks. From the October 7 massacre until the end of 2024, the fund provided 11,797 emergency and rehabilitation grants to victims of terrorism, an educational package for about 2,000 children, and nearly 4,500 group intervention programs for victims of terrorism, such as survivors of the Supernova music festival, the report said.
It also provided 3,369 families with rehabilitation grants, including the cost of medical treatment, sports and leisure activities; funding for 1,976 children and teenagers to participate in 276 days of summer camps; and 142 intervention programs for 4,497 victims and their families.
“The events of October 7 resulted in widespread harm, both physical and psychological, and the Fund significantly expanded its activities to provide direct assistance to the families of victims of terrorism, including the families of bereaved families, families of hostages and released hostages, and the wounded,” the Jewish Agency said.
The fund has expanded since the October 7 massacre to include Bedouin and Druze victims of terrorism, it said.
The report was submitted by Jewish Agency chairman Doron Almog, Fund for Victims of Terror chairwoman Ayelet Nachmias Verbin, and Jewish Agency Director-General Yehuda Setton.
The event
An event that was held to mark the submission of the report was attended by Lila Talalka, whose son, Samer Talalka, was taken hostage and accidentally killed by the IDF; Meirav Ram, whose son, Omri, was murdered at the Supernova music festival; and Noa Hanuka, who was pregnant on October 7 and whose husband, Noam, was shot by terrorists and seriously wounded.
“Meeting the families of victims of terrorism and the personal stories of people who have experienced the deepest pain and find the strength to move on are moving testimony to the resilience of Israeli society,” Michal Herzog said.
Almog said: “The Fund for Victims of Terror is living testimony to the mutual guarantee of the Jewish people that unites us, especially in these difficult days, when we are dealing with deep pain and loss.”