Suicide rate in Israeli army hits 13-year high amid ongoing war
The Israeli army has reported a sharp increase in the number of suicides since the start of the war in Gaza, adding that thousands of soldiers have stopped serving in combat roles due to mental distress. The trend has led the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to adopt new preventive measures 15 months into a conflict that has mobilised hundreds of thousands of reservists.
The Israeli army said Thursday that 28 soldiers had taken their own lives since the start of the war, marking the highest toll in 13 years and raising concerns about a potential mental health crisis in the army. The IDF noted that these are "suspected" suicides, as all cases remain under investigation to this day.
In a casualty report for the past two years, the IDF said it recorded 21 suicides in 2024, up from 17 the year before – including 10 that occurred before the October 7 attacks by Hamas militants that triggered the war.
The increase was most notable when compared to previous years, with 14 suspected suicides in 2022 and 11 in 2021.
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