An Israeli military officer has revealed that over 10,000 soldiers have been killed or injured since the beginning of the war on Gaza, a staggering toll that reflects the deepening crisis within the Israeli army. Israeli media have also reported mounting internal criticism about the army’s reserve system and the psychological cost of prolonged warfare.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, a senior officer in the Israeli army (whose name was not disclosed) said on Tuesday:
“We’re short more than 10,000 soldiers—killed or wounded—and thousands more are cycling in and out of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”
This rare admission underscores the scale of the losses Israel has faced in its brutal war against the Gaza Strip.
Latest Deaths and Attacks
The Israeli army officially confirmed that three soldiers were killed in northern Gaza on Monday. They held the rank of staff sergeant and were part of a Givati infantry brigade unit operating in Jabalia. The soldiers were reportedly targeted by a Hummer military vehicle ambush, which also left two firefighters injured.
In a separate statement, the Israeli army revealed that all casualties were from the 9th Battalion of the Givati Brigade. Israeli media later clarified that 11 others were wounded, two of them critically, in the same Jabalia attack.
On the other side, Al-Qassam Brigades announced that its fighters had engaged in point-blank combat with Israeli troops east of Jabalia refugee camp, inflicting multiple casualties. This was later confirmed by Hamas, highlighting the resilience and continued effectiveness of Palestinian resistance forces on the battlefield.
Internal Complaints Within the Army
Yedioth Ahronoth also reported growing discontent within the Israeli military ranks over the handling of reserve forces.
Military sources said that several officers had lodged formal complaints in recent weeks about a new policy that recalls reserve soldiers for combat after serving more than 72 days—a move viewed as unjust and unsustainable.
The paper revealed that many soldiers were suddenly called back to active duty as the army intensified its operations in Gaza. Some reservists complained that their commanding officers were absent during their extended service, leaving them unsupported.
The Crisis of Morale: Refusal to Serve
Dr. Mohannad Mustafa, an expert on Israeli affairs, stated that this reluctance among reservists to return to duty is part of a wider existential crisis within the Israeli military.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, he explained:
“This crisis stems from the lack of national consensus—socially and politically—on the continued expansion of military operations in Gaza.”
According to Dr. Mustafa, 2024 saw the highest number of reserve service days since the Nakba in 1948. The average reservist served 130 days—a historic record that carries enormous social, financial, and familial burdens. Unlike active-duty soldiers, reservists are deeply embedded in Israel’s civilian workforce and are directly impacted by shifts in public opinion.
He also noted that despite promises to limit reserve service to 75 days in 2025 and begin conscripting ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews, the opposite has happened.
“There is no broad support for a full-scale reoccupation of Gaza,” said Dr. Mustafa, “and that affects soldier morale significantly.”
Military analysts expect that the average service time will again exceed 75 days, as the government raises the stakes by pursuing a total military takeover of Gaza—potentially stretching reservist duty into hundreds of days.
A Bleeding Army: The Numbers
As of the latest Israeli army statistics:
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- 861 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the war began.
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- 419 of them died in ground combat in Gaza since October 27, 2023.
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- The number of wounded stands at 5,921, with 2,987 injured in Gaza alone.
These numbers reflect a serious blow to the Israeli military, one it has rarely experienced in such magnitude since its establishment.
Final Reflection
For months, Israel has tried to project an image of military dominance. But behind that image lies a fractured army, a demoralised reserve system, and a growing wave of PTSD, fatigue, and dissent.
Meanwhile, in the refugee camps and rubbled streets of Gaza, the resistance—though vastly outgunned—continues to stand firm, turning every inch of occupied land into a battlefield of defiance.
