Israeli Military Faces Rising Suicide Rates Among Active and Former Troops
International Desk
১৬-৯-২০২৬ দুপুর ১২:৩৬
Israeli Military Faces Rising Suicide Rates Among Active and Former Troops
A growing wave of suicides among Israeli military personnel has drawn heightened concern, with Israeli daily Haaretz reporting that 25 soldiers took their own lives between January 1 and July 31, 2026.
According to military data cited by Haaretz, the fatalities include 16 active-duty troops and 9 recently discharged personnel. All nine former soldiers had previously been deployed in combat operations conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip.
In a separate report, Israeli outlet Channel 7 stated that at least three additional military personnel died by suicide between August and September. The most recent incident occurred on Monday (September 14), when a soldier was found deceased at a residence in central Israel. Israeli Military Police have launched a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The escalation in psychological distress follows extended military operations in Gaza initiated by the IDF on October 8, 2023, following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7. Over two years of intensive combat in Gaza resulted in more than 70,000 Palestinian casualties and left nearly 174,000 injured. Although a US-mediated permanent ceasefire agreement was reached with Hamas on October 10, 2025, Israel has maintained a partial military presence in the enclave.
The strain on military personnel has been further amplified by new operations. Less than six months after the Gaza ceasefire, Israeli forces launched military campaigns in Lebanon in March 2026, where operations remain ongoing.
In February, sources within the Israeli Ministry of Defense Rehabilitation Department revealed a sharp surge in mental health diagnoses among service members over the preceding two years. According to department data, approximately 11,000 soldiers were receiving treatment for psychological conditions in February 2024. By February 2026, that figure had nearly tripled, reaching 31,000.
The Ministry of Defense currently estimates that roughly 38 percent of personnel across Israel’s defense and security establishments are experiencing various forms of psychological trauma and mental health disorders.
Source: Anadolu Agency
International Desk
১৬-৯-২০২৬ দুপুর ১২:৩৬
A growing wave of suicides among Israeli military personnel has drawn heightened concern, with Israeli daily Haaretz reporting that 25 soldiers took their own lives between January 1 and July 31, 2026.
According to military data cited by Haaretz, the fatalities include 16 active-duty troops and 9 recently discharged personnel. All nine former soldiers had previously been deployed in combat operations conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Gaza Strip.
In a separate report, Israeli outlet Channel 7 stated that at least three additional military personnel died by suicide between August and September. The most recent incident occurred on Monday (September 14), when a soldier was found deceased at a residence in central Israel. Israeli Military Police have launched a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The escalation in psychological distress follows extended military operations in Gaza initiated by the IDF on October 8, 2023, following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7. Over two years of intensive combat in Gaza resulted in more than 70,000 Palestinian casualties and left nearly 174,000 injured. Although a US-mediated permanent ceasefire agreement was reached with Hamas on October 10, 2025, Israel has maintained a partial military presence in the enclave.
The strain on military personnel has been further amplified by new operations. Less than six months after the Gaza ceasefire, Israeli forces launched military campaigns in Lebanon in March 2026, where operations remain ongoing.
In February, sources within the Israeli Ministry of Defense Rehabilitation Department revealed a sharp surge in mental health diagnoses among service members over the preceding two years. According to department data, approximately 11,000 soldiers were receiving treatment for psychological conditions in February 2024. By February 2026, that figure had nearly tripled, reaching 31,000.
The Ministry of Defense currently estimates that roughly 38 percent of personnel across Israel’s defense and security establishments are experiencing various forms of psychological trauma and mental health disorders.
Source: Anadolu Agency
