'Israel' to activate psych-program for soldiers returning from Gaza
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The occupation entity will establish a team of doctors and nurses capable of dealing with patients with suicidal tendencies.
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Israeli occupation Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi speaks to soldiers near the Gaza border preparing to invade the Strip on October 15, 2023 (social media)
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Sunday that the rehabilitation department of the Israeli occupation army will activate a program to assist soldiers suffering from "psychological disorders" due to the war on Gaza.
Quoting department officials, the report said that teams of nurses and psychiatrists who are capable of dealing with "suicidal tendencies" will be formed to conduct assessments for soldiers experiencing psychological disorders.
According to the media outlet, the war on Gaza is leading to "an unbearable and costly toll on lives, physical injuries, and psychological disorders, especially among disabled soldiers."
Read more: UN official calls Israeli conduct in Gaza ‘institutionalized impunity'
Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 revealed last Friday that 3,000 Israeli soldiers who sustained injuries as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza have been classified among those with "permanent disabilities in the army."
The rehabilitation department currently receives 60 new wounded troops daily from security and reserve forces, excluding regular army personnel, the news channel pointed out. Meanwhile, over 2,000 soldiers, classified as disabled and accommodated by the Israeli Ministry of Security, along with 1,000 from the regular forces, are currently being treated by the military, it continued.
Read more: 83% of Israelis support ethnic cleansing of Gazans: Survey
Since the launch of the war on Gaza on October 7, the number of wounded occupation soldiers has reached 5,000 as of December 9.
Maariv also touched upon the issue, revealing that Israeli soldiers, particularly reservists, are suffering psychological and physical due to the war.
Among the symptoms, the newspaper reported that forces are experiencing "grief and sorrow," which are manifesting in soldiers in various ways, such as sleep difficulties, breathing problems, and loss of appetite.
As the Palestinian Resistance sweeps through the ranks of invading Israeli soldiers in Gaza, the Israeli authorities are growing more concerned not only about the ground invasion's prospects of success but also the mounting losses.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted on Sunday that the Strip is exacting a "very heavy toll" on occupation forces.
Pointing out to the 15 soldiers killed during battles with the Resistance in Gaza on Friday, Netanyahu said, "This is a difficult morning, after a very difficult day of fighting in Gaza."
"Let it be clear: This will be a long war... [until] Hamas is eliminated and we restore security in both the north [Hezbollah] and the south," adding that "we have no choice but to keep fighting."
