16,500 Israeli soldiers treated for injuries since October 7, 2023
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Tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers and officers have been receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the war on Gaza and Lebanon, with nearly half suffering from psychological disturbances.
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Wounded Israeli reservist sits in his room at Sheba hospital's rehabilitation division, in Ramat Gan, occupied Palestine, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023 (AP)
The Rehabilitation Division in the Israeli Security Ministry has treated 16,500 soldiers and officers since the beginning of the war, Israeli channel Kan 11 revealed on Sunday.
According to the report, 7,300 of those receiving treatment also suffer from mental health and psychological issues.
This comes after Jacob Nagel, the former Israeli acting national security advisor, warned that the Israeli military is witnessing a serious manpower crisis amid the "growing threat posed by Iran," urging the reassessment of military strategies following the events of October 7, 2023.
According to Nagel, "the manpower crisis was evident even before the October attack and has become even more pressing since then," highlighting that the problem includes shortages in conscripts and reserve service, in addition to weaknesses in permanent service.
In January, Israeli media outlets reported on the pressing need for the Israeli military to take a break from combat operations, citing exhaustion among its forces. Analysts emphasized the importance of rest and training for the Israeli occupation forces, which they described as "fatigued and in need of a halt to fighting."
The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation military affairs analyst noted on Friday that reserve forces scheduled to enter Gaza the previous day did not deploy as planned.
He added that caution is required to avoid risky military ventures at this time, stating, "There is a constant reassessment of the situation regarding developments in other arenas, such as the West Bank, the northern front, and what will happen in Gaza."
The analyst concluded, "It is clear that the army is exhausted and must rest and train."
