Research uncovers the devastating impact of war on abducted families

While one hundred and twenty abductees are still dying in captivity, the mental and economic medical condition of their family members is also deteriorating. The Knesset’s health committee held another discussion on the medical condition of the abductee’s family members, in which a new study was revealed revealing that they are suffering from mental trauma, difficulties in family relationships, and financial harm seriously. Dr. Einat Yehana, head of rehabilitation at the headquarters of the families of the abductees, presented a study in which 10 women and eight men took part. The study revealed that the members of the families of the abductees, some of whom survived the massacre themselves, suffer from post-traumatic symptoms, cognitive difficulties, damage to family relationships, and financial deterioration.

The researchers determined that “in view of the fact that the families are in a state of traumatic stress characterized by ambiguity, helplessness, and terror alongside the struggle for repatriation, an epidemic of mental psychopathology and chronic diseases is expected among the families, which will be felt more strongly even after the return from captivity.” Kobi Ben Ami, brother of Ohad Ben Ami who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Bari, told about his mother’s deteriorating condition: “She is 78 years old, a dialysis patient who a month ago due to the whole situation had a pacemaker implanted and her condition is deteriorating day by day. We have been mentally abused for nine months. We are not in need of mercy or mercy, as long as the state does what needs to be done to bring them home and that they know how to give the appropriate answer that will make this crazy struggle that we are in a little bit easier for us.”

A number of family members from the first and second circles testified in the committee that they did not receive any proactive request from the health funds, or that they received only one request. Ester Buchstab, a kindergarten teacher by profession and the mother of the abducted Yagav Buchstab, said: “From the moment we realized that Shigav and his wife Ramon were abducted, I put all my other duties and occupations aside, including the issue of health. I don’t even have a maternity clinic and I don’t have online services because I don’t have a doctor and it doesn’t bother anyone. When I need to get a prescription I ask one of my friends who is a nurse to do me a favor and ask what is heard.”

Prof. Hagai Levin, chairman of the Union of Public Health Physicians who accompanies the families, said: “The state must establish a dedicated rehabilitation center that will build the Torah that is not written today, learn how to do it correctly. This event will accompany us in the second and third generation and we need to take care of it from now on. Today, the status of family members does not appear in the systems and therefore they do not always know how to give them the required answer.” Yael Goren Hezekiah, Director of Abductees, Missing Persons, and Returnees at the Prime Minister’s Office, admitted: “There is no doubt that the condition of the family members is not good mentally and health-wise. We know, we encounter it and help as much as we can. It is clear that they will not be able to feel well until their loved ones return. Beyond We are limited by law to give and provide assistance to them, and there is currently a professional committee that examines the issue of their recognition. At the moment, as the needs of the second circle arise through our existing connections with the first circle, we take care of them, but we do not have a mandate to contact them directly.”

Attorney Shlomi Mor, National Insurance, said: “The first circuit has all the rights and treatments. Unfortunately, the execution and implementation are a bit more difficult, but we have to remember that we are in the middle of a mega event with 65,000 injured, 693 bereaved parents, over 100 widows, and 600 orphans.” Attorney Mor also said: “The role of the Knesset is to criticize and also to legislate. If you want to regulate the status of the Second and Third Circuits, this should be done in legislation because finding solutions from here and there does not really hold nor does it provide the answer.”

The representatives of the health insurance funds who took part in the discussion stated that they received information about family members from the first circle only and they were approached proactively. They also said that any contact from insureds who identify themselves as family members of abductees is handled and given priority, as much as is required beyond what is included in the basket. The funds asked to receive an ordered list of family members from the second and third circles, in order to make a proactive appeal to them, and expressed a willingness to appoint a dedicated staff member who would be responsible for coordinating the treatment and the relationship with each family.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the chairman of the committee, MK Yonatan Mashriqi, called on the health funds to actively contact the families of the abductees and offer them adapted services and shortened waiting times: “This is support that should be provided for the long term, repeated applications over time and not a single application. We ask to receive a report from all the funds within a month on the number of insured persons from the first circle and the referrals made to them. Regarding the second circle, we will bring the conclusions of the professional committee to the Knesset as soon as they are published and move forward with the necessary regulation. Along with this, joint thinking should be carried out regarding the establishment of a dedicated rehabilitation center for the members of the families.”