Suicide among Israeli soldiers surges to the highest rate amid the war on Gaza

Middle East, News January 4, 2025 , by IRIA No Comments

3 minute read

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has reported a sharp rise in suicides among its ranks amid the ongoing war, with 38 soldiers taking their own lives in 2023 and 2024. 28 of these suicides occurred after the October 7 attack that triggered the current conflict.

The report shows a significant increase from 14 suicides in 2022 and 11 in 2021, highlighting growing concerns over the mental health crisis within the military.

The IDF report gave a conservative number on the soldier fatality during the war stating only 558 deaths in 2023 and 363 in 2024. A significant portion of these fatalities, 512 soldiers, were killed in combat or operations.

To put this into context, 2023 saw nine mandatory service soldiers, four officers, and nine reservists take their lives. In 2024, the suicide toll included seven mandatory service soldiers, two officers, and 12 reservists. This marks a dramatic and unprecedented increase in suicides among reservists, who had not reported any suicides as recently as 2022.

The military attributed the rise in suicides to the significant expansion of the reservist army due to the war, claiming it was “throwing increased resources” at the issue. Yet critics argue that these measures have been far from adequate.

Adding to the criticism is the IDF’s lack of transparency regarding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and broader mental health support for its soldiers. The rise in suicides has cast doubt on claims that the military is doing enough to address these issues, fueling public outrage and undermining confidence in the army’s leadership.

Israeli soldiers prepare to enter Gaza — *^{Israeli soldiers prepare to enter the Gaza Strip as the military conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas intensifies. (Image Credit: Reuters/Ronen Zvulun)}*

Most of the soldiers killed in combat were linked to the war in Gaza. The remainder of the deaths occurred in Lebanon, the West Bank, and the northern border. These figures lay bare the human cost of Israel’s military offensives in densely populated areas like Gaza, where the government’s actions have drawn widespread condemnation for the disproportionate harm inflicted on Palestinian civilians and the destruction of infrastructure.

The IDF’s report also highlighted other preventable deaths. Road accidents claimed the lives of nine soldiers in 2023 and 20 in 2024. Despite acknowledging this issue, the military provided no concrete measures or plans to reduce such incidents, drawing further ire from critics who accuse the IDF of neglecting basic safety protocols.

Situation in Gaza

The situation in Gaza remains tense as Israeli forces are conducting strikes despite the negotiators preparing to travel to Doha, Qatar, for the latest round of ceasefire discussions with Hamas.

Israel has conducted 34 airstrikes within the past 24 hours, resulting in the deaths of 71 civilians. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has condemned these actions as “horrific crimes” against the besieged population of Gaza.

Israel’s nearly 15-month attack on the Gaza Strip has now killed 45,658 Palestinians with another 108,583 wounded. The latest casualty figures were updated after 71 people were killed in Israeli attacks over the past 24-hour reporting period.

The death toll is presumed to be far higher with an estimated 10,000 bodies buried in the vast debris of the largely destroyed Palestinian territory.