Army officials link spike in suicides to combat trauma from Israel’s ongoing “war on seven fronts”.
At least five Israeli soldiers have taken their own lives over the past two weeks, including both conscripts and reservists recently discharged after extended combat deployments in Gaza and other active conflict zones.
Suicides within the IDF ranks have surged since West Jerusalem deployed troops to Gaza following the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Seven soldiers died by suicide by the end of 2023, followed by 21 cases confirmed in 2024, and at least 20 incidents since the start of this year.
The most recent case, confirmed on Sunday, involved a 19-year-old Norwegian immigrant who immigrated to Israel to join the IDF less than a year ago and was still undergoing training. Four others ended their lives in the past two weeks, including a Golani Brigade serviceman who shot himself at the Sde Teiman base, and reservist Daniel Edri, who self-immolated after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Most cases involve active-duty reservists, with military officials attributing the rise to combat-related trauma rather than personal or family circumstances.
“One cannot breathe in the face of this statistic,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said. “This war also kills souls.”
The IDF has also confirmed that thousands of reservists have withdrawn from combat roles due to psychological stress. The true number of suicides due to service-related mental health issues may be higher, with Haaretz reporting at least 12 non-combat veterans, whose deaths were not included in the army’s official statistics in recent years.
Now in its 21st month, the Gaza conflict has placed intense strain on Israeli forces, with prolonged deployments and mounting losses. Since the start of the operation, 893 Israeli soldiers have been killed, according to official data, in addition to nearly 1,200 Israeli civilians killed during the October 7 Hamas raid. The retaliatory offensive has resulted in nearly 59,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Beyond Gaza, Israel has conducted airstrikes and limited ground operations in Lebanon, expanded its military presence in Syria, and bombed Iran. It has also escalated its activities in Iraq, Yemen and the West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is fighting on seven fronts “to defend ourselves against… barbarism.”
Image credit: Levi Meir Clancy
Hope the people of Israel are happy about the transformation into sh*thole israhell by satanyahu and his fascist genocidal cabal, despised by the rest of the world. Unless there is profound self-analyses among jews worldwide and change in political mandate, the jews in Israel will be the ultimate hostages of the zionists, i.e. the international bankster cabal.
Israhell is supported by many jews in europe, despite the genocide.
Most of MSM are owned by jews or supporters of sionists and spreading pro israhell propaganda.
And critic of israhell is assimilated is assimilated with ” anti semitism” and legally punishable.
Further more european jews associations use lawfare to shut up any dissenting voices.
And Youtube also censures.
The next pogrom is going to be something….
Some good news for once.
Trauma. Probably guilt stemming from the trauma their actions have caused.
How many of these suicides were soldiers who shot and killed children?
Or, who stood by while it happened?
The brainwashing only works to a certain extent. And, the IDF definately uses psychological manipulation on its soldiers. How else do you dehumanize people?
Saves the Arabs from doing it.
Suicide or suicided for seeing too much?