The Gaza war is chasing occupation soldiers to death

Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip are facing increasing military and physical fatigue as a result of their extended military service, which has exceeded 21 months since October 2023. This is to the point where a large number of soldiers have not left the field for more than 300 days.

The Hebrew website Walla News quoted Israeli army data revealing an alarming increase in suicides among soldiers between 2023 and 2024. Thirty-eight suicides were recorded, including 28 that occurred after the start of the aggression on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

The website notes in a report translated by Quds Press that compared to 2022, which saw 14 suicides, and only 11 in 2011, the current increase represents a nearly fourfold increase in just two years.

This increase is attributed to the exceptional mobilization of reserve soldiers, who number more than 300,000 and were exposed to extreme levels of violence and psychological stress as a result of their participation in military operations in Gaza.

The report, citing a source in the army’s Human Resources Division, reveals that suicide has become the second leading cause of death among soldiers, after deaths resulting from direct military operations.

In 2023, 558 deaths were recorded, including 512 during combat operations, 17 suicides, and 10 deaths from medical causes. In 2024, 363 deaths were recorded, including 295 during operations, 21 suicides, and 13 deaths from illness.

Based on interviews conducted by the website with the families of fallen soldiers, 11 soldiers committed suicide due to psychological stress related to military service, some of whom did not leave the battlefield in Gaza for an entire year.