The prison warrior who guarded the Nuh’ba terrorists and collapsed

Arnon (pseudonym), a 41-year-old fighter, married and the father of three, served as a security guard in the Shavas for about 18 years. During his service, he was exposed to harsh scenes of violence and terrorism. With the outbreak of the Iron Swords War, he was required to guard Nokhava terrorists and was exposed to harsh descriptions.

In a civil lawsuit filed this week at the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court against the Harel insurance company, through attorney Moran Abrahami Yom Tov, an expert in life and health insurance claims, a chain of conduct is described that led to his mental collapse. According to the claim, on that Black Sabbath, Arnon served as a prison guard in the prison. With the sound of the sirens and the realization of the magnitude of the horror that is taking place in Otef, he found himself on the front line of the prisons – standing in front of security prisoners who understand what is happening and start rioting. Later, he was tasked with guarding and taking care of the Nuh’ba terrorists who were brought to prison. According to the claims, Arnon was present in the interrogation rooms, heard the descriptions of the brutal and horrific murders committed by the terrorists, and experienced an “emotional flood”, which apparently led to a complex and severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

Attorney Abrahami Yom Tov states that Arnon was diagnosed as suffering from complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of severe-moderate severity. He reported to his doctors about hallucinations, in which he hears the sounds of battles and smells ‘murder scene odors’ while performing simple daily activities. and severe physical injuries including fibromyalgia and orthopedic problems.

Moreover, she notes that his condition led to extreme avoidance. “He is unable to go shopping, avoids social gatherings and family events and shuts himself in his house. Even the smell of bread reminds him of the meals he provided to terrorists and makes him nauseous and anxious. As a former MGB fighter, he was already exposed to difficult events in the second intifada, including the murder of his friend in the patrol group by a Palestinian policeman, but for years he was able to suppress the feelings – until the morning of October 7, when everything flooded again”.

According to her, the Ministry of Health has already recognized the seriousness of his condition and established a 70% medical disability.

The insurance company refused the claim

Despite his condition described in the lawsuit, the insurance company rejected his claim to receive the insurance benefits for “permanent total disability”. Abrahami Yom Tov strongly attacks the decision of the insurance in the statement of claim. “Outragingly, the company relied on a doctor’s opinion on its behalf, in which it was claimed that despite his described mental state, the former fighter is fit to work in ‘pressure jobs’ such as a parking attendant, a security guard without weapons or a production worker.”

According to her, the company’s position is “theoretical and disconnected from reality”. She further claims that it is a mockery of Resh and an abdication of responsibility to offer a person suffering from tantrums, hallucinations and disconnections to work as a guard or janitor. “The rejection is arbitrary and outrageous, and is carried out while turning a blind eye to the plaintiff’s tragic situation.”

Attorney Abrahami Yom Tov demands that the court compel the insurance company to pay the full compensation of NIS 250,000, and even consider the imposition of special punitive interest for the insurer’s extreme bad faith.

Attached to the statement of claim was the opinion of a senior expert in occupational medicine on behalf of the claim, according to which the fighter is unfit to perform any work, contrary to the opinion submitted by the insurance company.