Hebrew sources reported that a noticeable rise in the suicide rates of Israeli soldiers during the performance of the active service in the army, compared to previous years. She stated that at least 15 soldiers have ended their lives since the beginning of 2025, while the number of suicides last year reached 21 cases.
The majority of suicides are reserve forces
Reports indicated that the majority of suicide bomber are reserve soldiers who participate in the active service, and that many of them were subjected to psychological shocks during the fighting greatly affected their mental health.
3 suicide cases within a week and a half
In recent days, a new Israeli soldier who participated in the Gaza war was announced to be the third case in less than two weeks. Hebrew media reported that the soldier belongs to the Nahl Brigade, and he committed suicide at a military base in the Golan Heights on Monday morning.
Psychological pressure after investigations
Last week, a soldier from the Golani Brigade committed suicide inside the base of Sadi Timan in the Negev, after he underwent an investigation with the military investigating police, where it was decided to withdraw his weapon from him, but he was able to use his colleague’s weapon to end his life.
War tragedies are chasing soldiers
In another incident during the same week, the Hebrew site reported that a soldier committed suicide after psychological suffering that lasted for months as a result of his participation in the battles in Gaza and Lebanon, and the atrocities and woes he witnessed.
44 suicides since the outbreak of the war
Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, at least 44 Israeli soldiers committed suicide, due to psychological symptoms resulting from the fighting, according to Hebrew media.
A severe crisis in the human forces of the army
On the other hand, the Institute of Israeli National Security Studies warned that the army is facing one of the most dangerous crises of manpower in its history, indicating that the army needs tens of thousands of soldiers to compensate for the shortage, amid fighting on multiple fronts.
The exemption of the Haridim threatens the motives of the service
Opinion polls showed that 71% of the Israelis believe that the exemption of the Haredi Jews from service is harmful to the motives for recruitment, while 42% believe that the exemption will affect their willingness to encourage their children to join the army.
Resorting to the elite in pedestrian tasks
The manpower crisis is reflected in the battlefield, as the Israeli army resorted to the use of elite and commando units in traditional infantry tasks, despite their lack of sufficient training in this type of operation, which reduces its efficiency.
Extension of the service and 12 hours of fighting daily
Israeli sources said that the army leadership is negotiating with the soldiers to extend their service period for an additional year, and that some are participating in combat activities that sometimes last 12 hours, which increases the state of fatigue and grumbling.
A numerical deficiency that impedes field control
Because of the large shortage of the number of forces, the army is unable to impose actual control on the ground, especially with the expansion of the area required to control it, and the need for huge wild sectors.
Huge human losses since the war
Since the war began, more than 890 Israeli soldiers have been killed, and more than 10,000 others were injured. About 20,000 soldiers also suffer from symptoms of PTSD, according to Israeli reports.
