Pardons up 30% since Oct 7 — the numbers

Fines see highest approval rate

The data shows an especially high approval rate for fine-reduction requests: 86% received a positive recommendation. The report attributes this to consideration for debtors who tried to pay through payment plans with the Fines Collection Center, failed to pay in full due to worsening circumstances, and have not committed further offenses in recent years.

The rate also reflects consideration for debtors affected by current events in Israel, the outbreak of the Iron Swords War and subsequent operations, the extended reserve duty many were called to, the evacuation of residents from their homes, and the resulting loss of income or employment.

By contrast, only 16% of requests for reduced prison sentences received positive recommendations. Those that did were based mainly on unique personal or family circumstances tied to the war's impact, such as complex medical or psychological conditions. For criminal-record expungement requests, 31% received positive recommendations.

Special track for war victims

During the year, the Pardons Department handled unique requests under special tracks and frameworks, designed to provide an appropriate response to a particular issue, a specific population, or urgent needs. In reviewing requests related to the war and military operations, significant weight was given to meaningful contributions to the state's security, to loss and bereavement, and to the heavy economic and emotional burden borne by the families of victims, evacuees, and hostages.

Considerations of compassion and mercy were applied with greater force, while maintaining a sensitive balance between the general public interest and the personal interest and need of the pardon applicant.

Under the special Iron Swords track, the department handled in 2025: 34 requests for reduced prison sentences (roughly 33%), 28 requests for reduced fines (roughly 27%), 21 requests to shorten the waiting period for criminal-record expungement (roughly 20%), and 16 requests to shorten waiting periods under a track for reserve soldiers (roughly 16%).

Cases handled under the special track

The report details several unique cases handled under the special framework. One involved M., in his early twenties, who was sentenced to 20 months' imprisonment for possession of various drugs not for personal use. After committing the offenses, he survived the Nova festival on October 7, lost friends, witnessed horrific scenes, and was himself injured.

Since then, he has struggled with post-trauma and has been in rehabilitation, alongside personal volunteer work for other victims. M.'s case raised many doubts given the severity of his actions. As part of handling the request, and given the sensitivity of the circumstances detailed in the application, the department decided to meet with the applicant in person.

Following that meeting and receipt of an updated probation report, the department recommended converting the prison sentence to community service alongside a probation order, with the aim of supporting M.'s continued rehabilitation. This was also in light of his young age, the absence of any other criminal record, and the impression that imprisonment could cause real harm to his rehabilitation, particularly given the psychological distress he has been in since October 7.

Another case involved M., z"l, who left behind fines totaling thousands of shekels, including police fines, an administrative fine, and a criminal fine. His son, as sole heir, requested relief from the remaining debt after a small portion had already been paid. The request revealed a severe and ongoing family tragedy, another family member of M. was murdered on "Black Shabbat," and later both M. himself and his wife passed away.

His son, who became the sole heir in his family, described being forced to deal with the debts his father left behind alongside significant psychological and financial distress. Given the severe family tragedy and its direct connection to the events of October 7, the department recommended removing the debts to the state from the heir and canceling the unpaid fines.

A third case involved Z., the brother of an Israeli citizen who was murdered and abducted to the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. Z. requested a shortened expungement period for his convictions. Alongside the severity of the offenses for which he was convicted in the past, the department also considered that the offenses were committed many years earlier during a crisis period in his life. At the same time, special weight was given to the disaster that befell Z. and his family, and to the severe and ongoing upheaval the family experienced. Under these exceptional circumstances, the department decided to grant the request and order the expungement period shortened to end immediately.

Special track for Ethiopian community

The report also notes a special track for criminal-record expungement for members of the Ethiopian community. One case involved Tz., in his twenties, who was convicted of obstructing a police officer, breaking into a residence, and conspiracy to commit a crime. Several years have since passed during which he married, started a family, distanced himself from the criminal world, and sought to advance professionally, but his criminal record prevented him from being accepted for certain positions.

Given the social challenges the track for the Ethiopian community addresses, as well as Tz.'s personal circumstances and the fact that he has turned his life around, the department recommended shortening the expungement period.

A special call for applications to expunge records for cannabis possession or use for personal consumption only, this track seeks to remove the criminal label and the stigma attached to it from those who committed an offense of possession or personal use of cannabis and have not been tried for additional offenses. L. was convicted of drug possession for personal use. He was born in Ethiopia and immigrated as an infant with his family; during the journey his younger sister died, and several years later his brother died of a serious illness. L. integrated in Israel, studied in programs for gifted students, joined a youth movement, a running team, and attended a pre-military academy. L. even sought to enlist as a combat soldier, but due to an injury his wish was not realized and he served in a staff position, until he was released from military service due to the worsening of his injury. Afterward, he was tempted and began using drugs to ease his pain. Despite the challenges and the disability he faces, he has since led a positive life and dedicates his time to volunteering and helping others. The Pardons Department therefore recommended expunging his criminal record.

Shortening the waiting period for expungement of criminal records for IDF soldiers past and present: Tz., in his thirties, requested a shortened expungement period for an old conviction for drug and property offenses. The offenses were committed during a period of psychological and financial distress, after he left the chareidi community in which he grew up and was left with almost no family support. Since then, he has undergone a deep rehabilitation process, served as a lone soldier and as a combat soldier in the Armored Corps, stopped using drugs, received psychological treatment and was recognized as having a medical disability, completed a pre-academic preparatory program, and studied at an academy. As part of giving weight to the events of the Iron Swords War, the department also considered that he was recognized as a victim of hostile actions after the events of "Black Shabbat," returned to the southern communities and volunteered there to rehabilitate the area and assist those leaving Be'eri. The Pardons Department therefore recommended shortening the expungement period that stood against him.

Use of pardon as a means to free a woman from agunah status, the Pardons Department handled a unique and heartbreaking case of a woman who has yearned for many long and agonizing years to be freed from the bonds of marriage to A., who refused to give her a get. More than two decades ago, the woman filed for divorce in a rabbinical court in the United States, but A. stood by his refusal to appear for hearings. When the opportunity arose, the woman filed for divorce against A. in a rabbinical court in Israel, and the proceeding ended with a ruling obligating A. to give his wife a get.

A. continued to refuse, and as a result sanctions were imposed on him including serving a civil imprisonment of several years. In 2021 he was charged with violating a court order intended to protect a person, and after his conviction in 2024 he was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. During his imprisonment, a request was received from A.'s defense attorney, stating that A. had announced he would agree to grant a get to his wife, on condition that he receive a pardon from the President and the prison sentence be canceled. Given the dramatic turn and seeing that there was a real window of opportunity worth seizing to save the woman from the bonds of her agunah status, the Pardons Department acted on the matter without delay, in cooperation with the Justice Minister and the President, and among other things spoke with all relevant parties, including a representative accompanying the refused-get woman on behalf of the rabbinical court.

Ultimately, in its opinion, the Pardons Department recommended reducing the prison sentence imposed on A., conditional on the giving of the get under a framework whereby at the get-arrangement hearing in the rabbinical court and immediately after A. gives the get, the commutation letter would be delivered to him through his attorney and the woman's representative, and he would be released from prison immediately. The Pardons Department followed the hearing closely, and after many hours the get was arranged and the commutation letter was executed.

Adv. Limor Goldenberg-Hadad, director of the Pardons Department at the Justice Ministry: "In 2025, the Pardons Department operated in a complex national reality, in a prolonged war, one that deepened existing crises and placed particularly heavy challenges before individuals, families, and communities. This reality requires the state's institutions to continue acting with determination, but also with sensitivity, with listening, and with the ability to see the person and his circumstances within the broader picture. Within this framework, the unique pardon tracks were activated, including the fine-relief tracks, the criminal-record expungement tracks for soldiers and national-service volunteers, and dedicated tracks to support the reserve system and populations directly harmed by the war."