7 Israeli soldiers committed suicide in July alone: Haaretz
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Over 43 Israeli soldiers have died by suicide since October, as the Israeli war on Gaza fuels a growing psychological crisis in the military.
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Israeli soldiers carry the flag-draped casket of Staff Sgt. Birhanu Kassie during his funeral, al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023 (AP)
An Israeli soldier has taken his own life after serving more than 300 days in the reserves, the Israeli Army Radio reported on Thursday. This, according to Haaretz, brings the total number of soldiers who died by suicide this month alone to seven.
In this context, an Israeli study has pointed to a rise in suicide cases within the Israeli military since the start of the war on the Gaza Strip, as joint research by Tel Aviv University and the military revealed that 12% of soldiers are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The number of suicides since October 2023 has exceeded 43 soldiers as of the study's release date on July 16, according to i24NEWS, reflecting a massive uptick in the number of suicides among Israeli army ranks.
The Israeli outlet reported that the war's toll on "Israel" is not limited to battlefield casualties but also includes soldiers who take their own lives after returning home due to psychological trauma.
The data show that 15,000 soldiers are receiving ongoing follow-up care from the Security Ministry, with 35% of them due to psychological symptoms.
These numbers reflect an exhausting psychological reality within the Israeli military, raising serious questions about the human cost soldiers are paying in a war that has yet to end, according to i24NEWS.
18,500+ IOF troops wounded, PTSD cripples soldiers
According to a July 27 report by Yedioth Ahronoth, the number of wounded Israeli soldiers since October 7, 2023, has exceeded 18,500, with thousands experiencing severe psychological trauma, and projections indicate that the total number of wounded may rise to 100,000 by 2028.
The report, citing data from the Israeli Ministry of Security, highlights that a significant number of these soldiers have not only left military service but have also withdrawn from the labor market, a trend that suggests wider repercussions for both the Israeli economy and society.
The report cautions that close to half of the soldiers projected to be wounded in the coming years will struggle with mental health conditions, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a surge in cases that has prompted an urgent reevaluation of mental health infrastructure, funding allocations, and therapeutic approaches.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that initial projections for 2030 are now expected to materialize by 2028 because of the dramatic increase in psychological cases, a shift that has forced authorities to accelerate and adjust their healthcare planning in response to the escalating crisis.
