Israeli Army probe shows most soldier suicides are combat-linked
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Investigations reveal rising Israeli soldier suicides in a trend that is bound to put the Israeli army in a crisis as the war on Gaza continues with no end.
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Israeli soldiers carry the flag-draped casket of Sgt. Omer Van Gelder, who was killed in Gaza, in al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Tuesday, June 3, 2025 (AP)
As "Israel" sustains its brutal war on Gaza, the Israeli army continues to grapple with a suicide pandemic, with numerous Israeli troops committing suicide after extended deployments in Gaza.
Investigations conducted by the Israeli occupation army revealed that the most recent suicides among its soldiers stem from combat-related circumstances and the difficulties associated with prolonged deployments in active combat zones.
The suicides resulted from the traumatic scenes soldiers witnessed, the loss of their fellow troops, and an inability to cope with the emotional toll of their experiences, according to the findings published by the official Israeli military broadcaster.
A high-ranking military official explained to Reshet Bet that the majority of soldier suicides stemmed from the difficult conditions created by the complicated postwar situation, noting the extreme challenges and the considerable volume of incidents.
Israeli army crumbles amid extended war
According to "Israel's" Kan TV channel, the army carried out investigations into every suicide, reviewing the victims' personal notes and speaking with those closest to them. Kan reported that there have been 16 suicides among soldiers in the first seven months of 2025, seven of whom were reservists, including four reservist deaths occurring in the previous month alone.
Two of the four soldiers took their own lives while actively participating in the occupation's genocidal war on Gaza, while the other two died by suicide after completing their military service.
Last year saw 21 soldier suicides, including 12 reservists, while 2023 recorded 17 such cases, and the previous year had 14. Facing this alarming increase in soldier suicides, Israeli military officials have voiced serious concerns, as a high-ranking army source indicated they're actively assessing and bracing for the potential expansion of this suicide crisis among both regular and reserve units.
Israeli Army Radio revealed on Thursday that another reservist has died by suicide following 300 days of active reserve duty, bringing the suicide toll among soldiers to seven, according to Haaretz's documentation.
Recent academic-military research in "Israel" has identified a rise in armed forces suicides coinciding with the Gaza offensive, while also uncovering that nearly one in eight soldiers is experiencing PTSD-related symptoms.
Security Ministry statistics indicate there are now 15,000 military personnel in the system receiving sustained follow-up care, where psychological symptoms constitute 35% of all current treatment reasons.
