11:05 / 01.05.2026

Suicide epidemic rising within Israeli army following Gaza war

Suicide epidemic intensifies in the Israeli army following the Gaza war

The bloody clashes in the Gaza Strip have fundamentally altered not only the map of the region but also the psyche of those on the battlefield. The mental health crisis and suicide cases observed within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are causing significant concern in society. Zamin.uz has investigated the details of this "hidden epidemic" and the horrific consequences of the war.

Grim statistics: Highest rate in the last 15 years

According to data released by the influential Israeli newspaper Haaretz, at least 10 military personnel have taken their own lives since the beginning of this year. April was particularly grim: within one month, six active-duty soldiers, three reservists, and two border police officers voluntarily ended their lives.

While the annual number of suicide cases averaged 12 in the pre-war period, these figures have risen sharply since the fighting began:

2023: 17 cases;
2024: 21 cases;
2025: 22 cases.

Experts emphasize that this figure is the highest and most alarming level in the last 15 years.

Psychological trauma and the "horrors of war"

Internal investigations by the army leadership and the Ministry of Defense attribute the causes of these suicides to the following factors:

Severe psychological burden: Witnessing horrific scenes on the battlefield and losing close comrades-in-arms.
Mental instability: Thousands of soldiers have left the battlefield due to the loss of mental equilibrium.
Need for treatment: Currently, about 10,000 military personnel are undergoing special psychological rehabilitation courses.

Gaza: A tragedy recognized as genocide

Against the backdrop of the crisis within the Israeli army, the scale of human casualties in the Gaza Strip has reached unimaginable levels. As a result of the attacks that have been ongoing since October 7, 2023, more than 72,550 Palestinians have lost their lives.

Important fact: Women and children account for more than half of the victims. In the period leading up to December 2025 alone, more than 38,000 women were killed.

Even after the ceasefire agreement signed on October 10, 2025, the bloodshed has not stopped — another 780 people have been killed.

Life under the rubble

Today, 90 percent of buildings in the Gaza Strip — homes, hospitals, and schools — have been razed to the ground. The 2.3 million population is perishing not only from bombs but also from the following factors:

Acute hunger and thirst;
Spread of infectious diseases;
Total isolation under siege.

As a reminder, in September 2025, an international commission officially recognized Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide.

Dear readers, what are your thoughts on these tragic consequences of the war and the mental health crisis among the military? In your opinion, what further measures should the international community take to stop this tragedy?