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Operation Roaring Lion assistance program

Has your home been damaged and you’ve been evacuated? Is your business inactive due to the current situation? Are you a reservist who also owns a small business?

The Bank of Israel has launched a support framework for households and small or micro businesses affected by Operation Roaring Lion.
This framework is designed to ease cash flow challenges and help those affected get through the coming period. To apply for a loan or mortgage payment deferral, please contact the bank where you hold your current account or the bank from which you took out your loan or mortgage.

Important to know:

Most banks are offering additional relief measures beyond this framework, so it’s recommended to check the websites of the commercial banks as well.

Applications can be submitted between March 16, 2026, and April 16, 2026.
The framework may be extended depending on security developments and emerging needs.
Banks that wish to implement the framework or begin accepting applications earlier may do so.
Customers can submit applications to join the framework until April 16, 2026.

Relief for households

  • Who is eligible?

    Households whose homes were damaged and who were evacuated, or individuals who were injured and hospitalized as a result of Operation Roaring Lion.

    For damaged homes – in addition to those owning a single dwelling who live in that residence, the following groups are also eligible:

    • Homeowners who own a single property that was damaged, even if they do not live in it, and whose tenants had to evacuate, may defer mortgage payments (of any amount) and consumer loans up to NIS 100,000 for three months, without interest or fees.
    • Tenants who lived in a damaged property and were evacuated may defer their consumer loans up to NIS 100,000 for three months, without interest or fees.

  • For what are you eligible?

    1. Deferral of mortgage payments (for a first home or home upgrade only) for three months, with no interest or fees.
    2. Deferral of consumer loans up to a total of NIS 100,000 for three months, with no interest or fees.

  • What documents are required?

    1. For households whose homes were damaged – an official confirmation from the local authority or another authorized body confirming evacuation.
    2. For those injured during the operation – an official confirmation of hospitalization due to injuries sustained in the operation.

  • How will the deferred payments be rescheduled?

    For mortgages: The bank may choose one of the following options –

    • Add the deferred payments to the end of the mortgage term.
    • Spread the deferred payments over the remaining mortgage period.
    • Provide an interest-free loan equal to the deferred amount, for a four-year term, with repayment starting after one year.

    For consumer loans: The deferred payments will be added to the end of the loan term.

Relief for small and micro businesses

  • Who is eligible?

    Small and micro businesses with annual revenue of up to NIS  25 million, which were affected (physically or financially) by Opera Roaring Lion.

  • For what are you eligible?

    1. Deferral of loan payments for two months, up to a total of NIS 2 million per business, without interest or fees.
    2. For reservist business owners who had an overdraft as of March 1, 2026 (the day before the framework was announced):
      • They are also eligible for a two-month exemption from interest charges on their business account overdraft (up to NIS 30,000).
      • This benefit will be granted automatically to business owners identified by the bank as having an annual turnover of up to NIS 25 million or who are confirmed reservists, or who have informed the bank of their reserve service.
    3. Businesses that do not meet the above criteria may still defer loan payments up to NIS 2 million per business for two months, but the deferral will be subject to the agreed interest rate.

  • What documents are required?

    1. For physically damaged businesses: an official confirmation from the local authority or another authorized body confirming evacuation of the business premises.
    2. For businesses that are inactive during the operation: a confirmation from a certified accountant, tax advisor, or a notarized declaration by a representing attorney confirming that the business was inactive during part or all of its regular operating days since February 28, 2026.
      • A link to a suggested declaration form (prepared in coordination with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants) can be found here.
    3. For reservist business owners: those who served in the reserves between February 1, 2026, and April 1, 2026, for either all or part of that period, and received payment or credit to their account for reserve service.
      • If the reservist was called up for the first time, identification will be based on the payment received in March 2026.
      • If automatic identification is not possible (for example, if the reservist holds multiple accounts or the payment was deposited in a different bank), the benefit will be granted upon submission of supporting documentation.

  • How will the deferred payments be rescheduled?

    For business loans: The deferred payments will be added to the end of the loan term.
    For business credit with a repayment period longer than three years, the rescheduling options will follow the same structure as for mortgages.

How do we submit a request?

Applications for loan deferrals can be submitted through the bank where your account is held.
Applications will be accepted from March 16, 2026, to April 16, 2026.

For related helpful information, you can contact:

  • The Consumer Inquiries and Inspections Unit at the Banking Supervision Department: *9086 or 02-655-2680.

  • The hotline for the Commissioner of Credit Data at the Bank of Israel - *6194

  • For updates and information related to Operation Roaring Lion: visit the Bank of Israel website.

Further clarification

    1. The framework that has been formulated sets out the minimum conditions, and each bank may expand it for the benefit of its customers and at their request.
    2. It is clarified that this framework is in addition to the provisions of Section 9H2 of the Banking (Service to the Customer) Law, 5741–1981, and does not replace
    3. Payment deferral requires the customer to contact the bank and submit a request in the manner determined by the bank.
    4. The provisions of this framework do not apply to borrowers who are subject to legal proceedings. For borrowers who were already in arrears at the time the framework was published, a deferral may be granted for a period not exceeding 180 days from the date the arrears began.
    5. For small corporations, eligibility will be determined according to the criteria published by the bank.
    6. A representing tax advisor is as defined in the Regulation of Representation by Tax Advisors Law, 5765–2005.