Over 18,500 Israeli troops wounded since Gaza war began
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Israeli Channel 12 reports 18,500 Israeli casualties in Gaza war, including 12,500 physical injuries and over 10,000 suffering from PTSD and psychological trauma.
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Wounded soldiers arrive for the funeral of an Israeli staff sargeant who was killed in action in the Gaza Strip, at Mt. Herzl Military Cemetery in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Tuesday, July 8, 2025 (AP)
The Israeli regime has recorded more than 18,500 injuries among its forces since the start of its military campaign against the Gaza Strip, according to a report published Monday by Israeli Channel 12. The figures underscore the growing toll of nearly ten months of warfare, with a significant number of those wounded suffering from both physical and psychological trauma.
According to the report, at least 12,500 troops sustained physical injuries, while more than 10,000 others are dealing with post-traumatic stress and other psychological conditions, reflecting the intensity of combat and the deep mental strain within the ranks of the Israeli occupation forces.
The data revealed that 33% of the physical injuries involved the limbs, 13% affected the head, eyes, or ears, and 7% were related to the spine, neck, or back, which are injuries typically associated with high-intensity urban warfare and repeated exposure to explosions.
Majority of casualties from reserve units
The report noted that 65% of those injured belong to the reserve forces, 18% to the regular army, 10% to police and other security units, and 7% to permanent military personnel. Women accounted for 7% of the total number of wounded.
The breakdown illustrates the extensive military and psychological attrition experienced by the Israeli occupation forces, as the war in Gaza nears its tenth month and resistance operations continue across multiple fronts inside the Strip.
This comes as the Israeli occupation forces are facing a deepening crisis marked by a significant shortage of officers, particularly within its ground forces. According to a report by the Israeli newspaper Maariv on Monday, around 300 officer positions in platoon leadership roles remain unfilled.
Combat engineers, officers missing
This shortage is especially critical in the Combat Engineering Corps, where there is a lack of platoon leaders and teams specializing in engineering operations and explosive ordnance disposal.
Military analyst Avi Ashkenazi explained to Maariv that the army is encountering difficulty in persuading qualified soldiers to enter officer training programs.
“For the first time, the military is openly acknowledging the scale of the attrition,” he said. “The size of the army no longer matches the scope of its responsibilities.”
