Israel Reports Five Soldiers Committed Suicide Within Two Weeks

(MENAFN) An alarming number of five Israeli soldiers have ended their own lives within the past fortnight. This devastating toll includes both conscripted personnel and reservists who were recently discharged after extensive combat deployments in Gaza and other active conflict zones.

Suicides within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have significantly increased since the Jewish state initiated troop deployments to Gaza following the devastating Hamas assault on October 7, 2023. By the close of 2023, seven soldiers had died by suicide. This figure then surged to 21 confirmed cases in 2024, with at least 20 additional incidents recorded since the beginning of the current year.

The most recent confirmed case, reported on Sunday, involved a 19-year-old Norwegian immigrant who had relocated to Israel to join the IDF less than a year ago and was still undergoing training. Four other soldiers have taken their own lives in the last two weeks, including a Golani Brigade serviceman who died by suicide at the Sde Teiman base, and reservist Daniel Edri, who self-immolated after receiving a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The majority of these incidents involve active-duty reservists, with military officials attributing this alarming rise primarily to combat-related trauma, rather than personal or family issues.

"One cannot breathe in the face of this statistic," opposition leader Yair Lapid stated. "This war also kills souls."

The IDF has acknowledged that thousands of reservists have withdrawn from combat roles due to severe psychological stress. The actual number of suicides linked to service-related mental health issues might be even higher, with media 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 war has placed immense pressure on Israeli forces, marked by prolonged deployments and increasing casualties. Official data indicates that 893 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the operation began, in addition to nearly 1,200 Israeli civilians killed during the October 7 Hamas raid. The retaliatory offensive has led to 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 intensified its activities in Iraq, Yemen, and the West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed that Israel is fighting on seven fronts "to defend ourselves against… barbarism."

MENAFN21072025000045017169ID1109825178