Suicide among soldiers has long been one of the most severe crises facing military institutions during and after wartime. Today, this phenomenon is becoming increasingly evident as numerous Israeli occupation soldiers — especially those who took part in the war on Gaza and committed atrocities against Palestinians — have taken their own lives.
Within a single week, four Israeli soldiers attempted suicide. Three of them died instantly, while the fourth remains in critical condition. All were reservists who participated in the aggression on Gaza. Before ending their lives, they shared harrowing testimonies describing Gaza as a nightmare — “hell on earth.”
This wave of suicides highlights the deeper psychological causes behind such decisions, despite the outward image of power that soldiers project while wielding weapons on the battlefield.
Post-Traumatic Psychological Collapse
Among the most prominent causes of suicide is psychological trauma, particularly Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Soldiers in combat zones are often exposed to intense scenes of bloodshed, death, and destruction. PTSD results in nightmares, severe anxiety, chronic insomnia, and a deep sense of insecurity that, when left untreated, may lead to total mental collapse and ultimately, suicide.
Some soldiers are also plagued by overwhelming guilt over the crimes they committed against civilians, especially given the unprecedented scale of killing and destruction in Gaza. This guilt spirals into intense internal conflict, and for some, suicide becomes the only perceived escape from the weight of their actions.
Emotional detachment is another driving factor. During prolonged combat, many soldiers become unable to reconnect with civilian life. They feel emotionally cut off from their communities, believing that those around them cannot possibly understand what they’ve endured. Family breakdowns, domestic violence triggered by relentless stress, and the inability to reintegrate all contribute to a mounting psychological toll — leading many toward suicide as a final exit.
In addition, chronic exhaustion, irregular sleep, and a constant fear of death place immense psychological strain on soldiers. According to military psychological studies, such relentless pressure can erupt into a desperate desire to flee life altogether.
Genocide in Gaza: The Trigger Point
Since the Israeli military launched its full-scale aggression against Gaza — marked by war crimes and widespread massacres — signs of psychological breakdown among soldiers have begun to emerge months later.
In testimonies delivered during special Knesset sessions, Israeli soldiers have demanded financial compensation for the deep trauma they now suffer. One soldier admitted to urinating involuntarily during the night, haunted by memories of Palestinian resistance attacks on the vehicle he occupied. He also confessed to violently assaulting and choking his wife daily, overwhelmed by mental instability.
Israeli media outlets reported a case in which a soldier, months after returning from Gaza, woke up in a military base during the night and opened fire with his personal weapon on fellow soldiers — believing he was still inside Gaza under attack. His deteriorating mental condition had caused a complete psychological break.
The intensity of the Palestinian resistance, especially the ambushes that trapped Israeli units and killed many of their comrades, exacerbated the trauma. Soldiers witnessed firsthand the death and dismemberment of their fellow troops — a reality that continues to haunt them.
According to Hebrew media, many soldiers were driven to suicide by the combination of brutal combat and their failure to achieve any strategic gains, despite overwhelming military firepower. Facing a determined resistance force adept in guerrilla tactics and attrition warfare, these soldiers were left mentally broken and demoralised.
Suppressing the Truth
Despite the spike in suicides, the Israeli military censor has refused to disclose the actual numbers of self-inflicted deaths. Israeli Army Radio reported that military personnel and lawmakers had called for an emergency Knesset session to address what they described as an alarming rise in suicide rates.
However, the army’s Human Resources Department has declined to release any statistics. Requests for information have been dismissed with vague responses, including a claim that such figures would not be available until January 2026.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid revealed that at least 40 Israeli soldiers had committed suicide since the war on Gaza began. Twenty of these suicides occurred within the first half of the current year alone.
What the Victims Lived Through
Among the most notable cases was that of an Israeli air force pilot, ranked major, who previously served in Unit 8200 — one of the Zionist military’s top intelligence divisions. He had participated in the war on Gaza from day one. Suffering from severe PTSD, he went into a nearby forest and fatally shot himself.
In another incident, the mother of soldier Daniel Edri recounted how her son died after setting himself ablaze inside his car, deep in a forest near Safed in northern occupied Palestine. She revealed that he was haunted by horrific memories of charred and mutilated bodies he encountered in Gaza. The stench of blood and burned flesh clung to him, tormenting him to the end.
In yet another case, an ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Israeli soldier killed himself with a grenade during the second battle of Jabalia inside Gaza, shortly before the ceasefire — which Israel itself later violated. Overwhelmed by terrifying battlefield experiences, he ended his life inside the war zone.
Initially, the Israeli military refused to register him among its official fatalities. Only after significant delay did they quietly acknowledge his death as a military casualty.
