Israeli army records highest soldier suicide rate in 15 years

Some members of the Israeli Army wailing.

By Quds News Network

Occupied Palestine (QNN)- An Israeli army report shows a sharp rise in soldier suicides in 2025, according to an investigation published by Israeli Haaretz.

The newspaper reported that 22 Israeli soldiers killed themselves this year.

This is the highest figure since 2010, when 28 soldiers took their lives after the Gaza genocidal war.

Israeli army data confirmed the number rose to 22 after the death of a combat engineering soldier in mandatory service last Wednesday.

Israeli police opened a formal investigation.

The data shows that 12 of the soldiers were conscripts while nine were reservists.

Fourteen cases happened outside military bases and eight occurred inside bases.

The report noted that five soldiers had “severe mental health conditions” and were receiving psychological care. One of them was a senior drone specialist. He reportedly said before his death that he could no longer endure the effects of Israeli attacks.

Journalist Tom Levinson linked the rise in suicides to the genocidal war in Gaza that began on October 7, 2023.

The total number rose from 17 in 2023 to 21 in 2024.

This marked a sharp increase from the previous decade, when the annual average stood at 12 cases.

The Israeli army claims there is no single cause behind the deaths.

However, military sources told Haaretz that exposure to “harsh scenes” during the genocide likely harmed soldiers’ mental health.

The report stressed that the figures do not include former soldiers who committed scuicide after leaving service.

Israel’s Ministry of Defense estimates that about 15 former soldiers who served during the genocide died by suicide after discharge.

Due to the rise in post-service suicides, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and former army chief Herzi Halevi formed a special committee to study the issue.

The committee released its conclusions last Tuesday.

It decided that the army will provide initial support to families of former soldiers who killed themselves, if investigators establish a link to military service.

Military officials warned that 2026 could be the most difficult year psychologically.

They cited the cumulative impact of war and the long duration of combat. 3 January 2026

Source: https://countercurrents.org via JUST Commentary, Malaysia.