Guy Akuka, nearly blind since birth, does not see the world like most people. With a visual range of only three meters, he has spent his life sharpening a different kind of vision: a profound sense of social justice. Today, as a senior attorney for the Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ), Akuka has become a lifeline for IDF veterans, providing expert legal representation to those navigating the grueling bureaucracy of the Ministry of Defense.
While many lawyers charge thousands for specialized military advocacy, Akuka provides his services pro bono through JIJ. His mission is to ensure that no soldier is left behind by the system they served.
“I remember myself as a child being drawn to social issues and injustices,” he told Israel Hayom. After overcoming significant hurdles to memorize his law school curriculum and pass the bar, he chose to leverage his degree for the public good. Now, under the banner of JIJ, he has become known as the “Defender of the Wounded.”
Representing veterans, Akuka enters the rooms where most dare not go. He accompanies families to medical committees—sometimes held in hospital rooms while the soldier is still unconscious—to determine disability percentages.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Akuka says. “Families are in shock and pain, and amidst that, there is a sea of bureaucracy you can easily drown in.”
His work has become even more critical following the Iron Swords War. Despite the national consensus on the sacrifice of soldiers, many fighters still struggle to receive recognition for PTSD. “They come to me helpless,” Akuka explains. “The Jerusalem Institute of Justice provides this service for free because those who fought for the state shouldn’t have to beg the state for recognition.”
Akuka’s work with JIJ isn’t limited to individual cases; he is a force in the halls of power. He frequently appears before Knesset committees to draft legislation and file petitions to the High Court of Justice to fix systemic failures.
His current battle is one of his most painful: The Recognition of the Fallen.
“In the last two years, 68 soldiers and reservists committed suicide as a result of their service, yet the state does not recognize them as fallen soldiers. It’s a slap in the face to the families. Through the Institute, we have drafted a legal amendment to ensure they are recognized and their families are embraced as bereaved families.”
Despite the grueling hours and the emotional toll of his work with JIJ, Akuka is looking toward the future. His ultimate goal is to move from the podium to the bench.
“I will be a judge in Israel,” he declares. “That is the dream. To me, the judicial seat is the pinnacle of doing justice.”