Israeli Military Suicides Continue to Rise as Gaza War's Psychological Toll Deepens
Two more active-duty Israeli soldiers have died by suicide this week, bringing the number of Israeli military personnel who have taken their own lives in 2026 to at least 16, according to Haaretz. The latest deaths have intensified concerns over what Israeli officials, veterans, and mental health experts describe as a growing psychological crisis within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) after nearly three years of war in Gaza.
The two soldiers, a combat soldier and an intelligence officer, were both women, according to Haaretz. Israeli Military Police have opened investigations into both deaths, and the newspaper also reports that at least nine former soldiers have died by suicide after completing their military service this year.
The latest cases follow a sharp rise in military suicides over the past two years. Haaretz previously reported that 21 active-duty Israeli soldiers died by suicide in 2024, with 22 more in 2025, the highest annual totals the military has recorded in roughly 15 years.
Mental health professionals have linked the increase to repeated combat deployments following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack and Israel’s prolonged military campaign in Gaza. Israeli commanders have acknowledged that the realities of war have played a significant role in the crisis.
The psychological impact extends far beyond suicide statistics. Reuters reported earlier this year that the IDF has seen a nearly 40% increase in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among soldiers since late 2023. According to Israeli officials cited by Reuters, roughly 60% of the more than 22,000 service members receiving treatment for physical war injuries are also experiencing PTSD. An Israeli parliamentary committee also found that 279 soldiers attempted suicide between January 2024 and July 2025.
Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have rightfully accused senior Israeli leaders of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, while South Africa’s case before the International Court of Justice alleges that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Israel rejects those allegations and argues it is conducting a lawful military campaign against Hamas following the October 7 attacks.
The humanitarian toll inside Gaza has been catastrophic, with tens of thousands of Palestinians killed, according to Gaza health authorities, while humanitarian organizations have documented widespread destruction, repeated displacement, and severe shortages of food, medicine, and clean water. International human rights organizations have also documented allegations of unlawful killings, torture, and abuse that remain under investigation.
Psychologists say prolonged exposure to violence can produce what is often called “moral injury,” the profound psychological distress that can occur when someone witnesses, participates in, or believes they have violated deeply held moral values. While that concept does not diminish accountability for potential war crimes, experts say it helps explain why many soldiers experience lasting trauma long after combat ends.
As the war approaches its third year, Israel continues to grapple not only with the human cost borne by civilians in Gaza, but also with a mounting mental health crisis among the soldiers fighting the conflict.
I guess this is evidence that some still have a conscience. Put that bastard Satanyahu into the army.
1) what’s happening in Gaza is a GENOCIDE, NOT a war. Please call it for what it is instead of sanitizing it.
2) I’m conflicted about this issue because I really do feel empathy for those who suffered from suicidal thoughts and attempts based on my personal experiences, and I feel even more empathy for those who committed suicide. However, my heart still goes out to the ppl of Gaza based on all the atrocities they’re still going through to this very day. All the innocent lives including women and children that were killed in this genocide crushed my spirit more than you’ll ever know. So it’s hard for me to feel bad for any of the IDF soldiers knowing that 17,000 innocent Palestinian children were killed by those same people (more than that by now).