An Israeli soldier who was severely wounded during an operation in Gaza is walking again thanks to the Atalante X exoskeleton. The young man, referred to as D., suffered a serious spinal injury when a bullet struck his back during a building clearance. Doctors initially predicted full paralysis, followed by a possible vegetative state. Today, he is taking his first steps.
The Atalante X, developed by the Franco-American company Wandercraft, allows patients with spinal injuries to walk without the use of a wheelchair. The exoskeleton responds to the user’s movements, imitating a natural walking pattern. Sheba Medical Center is one of the few hospitals in the world currently using this technology.
According to Hanania Sharon, head of the physiotherapy department at Sheba, the treatment is not only about physical recovery but also about restoring hope and motivation.
For D. and others in similar conditions, the exoskeleton has become a tool for regaining independence. He now speaks of the future — walking, working, driving a car.
His story is a reminder that for many, the fight continues long after the battlefield — in rehabilitation rooms, where each step marks a return to life.
